Every late summer it's the same again: Eating a cozy plum cake or having a barbecue on the terrace is almost impossible because uninvited, black and yellow tabby guests stubbornly buzz around the table. There are a few tricks to keep the pests away.
Wasps don't like to be seen at the table
What you should know about wasps
Wasps love sweets and savory
The wasps that we find so annoying at the garden table are only a fraction of the huge family of wasps. As a rule, it is German and common wasps that so brazenly and tirelessly dispute our food. These species mainly feed on the following foods:
- Sweets - jams, ice cream, icing, fruit
- Savory - meat, fish (especially raw)
So it's no wonder that the critters rush to our table, especially at breakfast, drinking coffee and grilling. Precautions are particularly necessary at these meals.
Wasps have a keen nose
Wasps have a very keen sense of smell, which allows them to detect suitable food from afar. This will quickly attract them to a table full of goodies, even from afar.
What should I do?
When it comes to wasp plagues at the table, home remedies are often propagated that are supposed to provide an odor barrier for the wasps. In fact, the animals find herbaceous, ethereal smells such as lavender, lemon verbena, basil, clove oil or frankincense plants repulsive. However, such remedies do nothing against the temptation of sweet, nutritious treats. Especially in their most active phase from August, the workers are just too hungry to let unpleasant smells keep them from easily accessible food sources.
At best, smoking wasp repellents such as glow coils or aroma lamps can have a certain effect.
The only thing that is really effective is unfortunately also a bit annoying: all tempting food and drinks should be covered consistently so that the scent molecules don't get into the air in the first place. This way the wasps may not even notice your meal.
If wasps do appear at the table, try to catch them with a drinking glass and keep them locked up while you eat. In this way you prevent her from informing her colleagues about the fat booty and further hordes coming growly. Don't forget to release the wasp after clearing it up!