Wasps are notorious for their painful sting and the fear they invoke in people. While there are many ways to deal with wasps, we can use scents that wasp hate. In this post, you will find eight scents that wasps hate and how to use them.
There are a variety of smells that repel wasps, but the following eight seem to be the most effective. Nevertheless, wasps play an important role in the environment. They help control populations of other pests and are also instrumental in pollination. Continue reading to find out more.
Table of Contents
Do wasps smell?
Yes, wasps have a very strong sense of smell. It is one of the ways they locate food sources. Some scents that repel wasps are peppermint, lemongrass, clove, and geranium essential oils.
You can also use geranium flowers as a natural repellent. They release a scent that confuses and overwhelms the wasp’s sense of smell, causing them to fly away.
Some types of wasps, like paper wasp stings, can contain venom. Wasps are known to be either omnivores or carnivores. Many people mistake wasps for being herbivores, but they are not.
Wasps can be present in colonies around yards, fruit baskets, hanging nests, diet drinks, or even in coat areas. For prevention preparation, spray the wasp sprays filled with substances like insecticides around the wasp problem nest or enemy nest of bees.
8 Scents That Wasp Hate and How to Use Them
Peppermint Oil
Peppermint oil is a natural insecticide and pest repellent that effectively deter wasps. The smell of peppermint specifically is something that wasps hate, and it does not last forever. You will need to apply the peppermint oil frequently to keep the wasps away.
In addition, peppermint oil is a natural wasp repellent. It does not harm the wasps, but rather, it intimidates them and keeps them away. However, peppermint oil is not a permanent fix and will need to be applied frequently.
Interestingly, wasps strongly dislike the scent of mint. Take advantage of this by making your peppermint oil concentrate that will last long enough to keep the wasps away. Spray the concentrate around entrances and windows, or you can use it in a diffuser.
Moreover, the smell of peppermint oil is a deterrent to wasps. Hopefully, it will be pungent to them and encourage them to go away. Unless you hate the smell of peppermint, you will find it delightful.
Lemongrass, Clove, And Geranium Essential Oils.
Many different essential oils have been proven to be effective in deterring wasps. Some of the most popular include lemongrass, clove, and geranium. There are many ways to use these oils, including directly on different spots or mixed in a water bottle.
These oils have been used in various ways, but the goal is not to eliminate them. Rather, the goal is to keep them away from an area where they are not wanted. For this to be successful, the wasp nest needs to be removed.
Herbs
You can plant several herbs in your garden to deter wasps. These plants are effective at repelling these pests, including thyme, eucalyptus, mint, wormwood, citronella, and basil.
Planting these herbs will help keep wasps away from your backyard and make it less inviting for them to nest.
Nevertheless, you can plant a small flower bed on your porch that contains some of the herbs mentioned in the passage to keep wasps away. These plants will release scents that wasps hate and will help to repel them from your property.
Interestingly, a few plant herbs have a mint scent that repels wasps. By planting these mint-type plants in your garden or around your house, you can deter wasps from coming near while enjoying the added benefits of the plants.
Additionally, many of these herbs (basil, thyme, and rosemary) are great additions to cooking, so you can enjoy their taste and smells while keeping pesky wasps away.
Additionally, planting certain flowers will also deter wasps. Certain herbs and plants give off a strong scent that wasps find offensive. By planting these tight areas where you typically see wasps, they should be able to pick up on the scent and stay away.
Vinegar
There are a variety of scents that wasps hate, but vinegar is one of the most effective. You can make a spray mixture using white vinegar and water.
The vinegar will cover up some of the scents that wasps love due to its intense nature, which will help to distract them from your area.
Although apple cider vinegar is not a wasp repellent. You can mix with peppermint oil to create a spray that will deter wasps. The mixture should be diluted in water so that the scent of the vinegar is not too overpowering.
It is important to use vinegar and water to keep the wasps away. The vinegar’s scent will mask the attractants that wasps are looking for, and the wasps will eventually go away.
For better results, spray the mixture frequently; however, be aware that the vinegar’s scent can diminish in a couple of days.
Anti-Wasp Ornamental Plants
One ornamental plant that you can consider to deter wasps is geraniums. These plants have red flowers and a pungent smell.
The smell is caused by certain compounds called terpenes, released when the petals are crushed. UV light in the range of 300 to 650 nm also helps repel wasps.
Bees and wasps are very similar in their anatomical structure, except for color. Bees have the power to see ultraviolet light invisible to the human eye, while wasps cannot see any colors except green.
It means that if you want to keep wasps away from your house or garden, you should use plants that have red flowers or leaves. Additionally, using scents like lavender or citronella near doors and windows will help to repel wasps.
Although geraniums are a great repellent for wasps, they are not 100% reliable. If there is a wasp nest on your property, the best way to remove it is to burn it.
Cucumber
Cucumber is another scent that can deter wasps. Cucumbers have an acidic smell that deters wasps. You can plant cucumbers near your house or use cucumber slices to repel wasps.
Interestingly, use cucumber to get rid of stingers instantly. However, it is not good for wasps as insects like flies and bees are attracted to rotting cucumbers.
While the research on this subject matter may not be extensive, it is widely believed that cucumbers can help keep wasps away.
Some people believe that the scent of cucumbers repels wasps, while others think that the visual of a cucumber slice near where wasps are nesting will make them fly away.
Ground Dried Bay Leaves
Ground dried bay leaves are an effective way to deter wasps. They have a strong scent that wasps don’t like. You can add it to other spices for a stronger deterrent effect, such as cinnamon powder or chili powder.
Wasp deterrents come in all shapes and sizes, but the dried bay leaf is one of the most versatile. You can purchase ground bay leaves, grind them yourself, and scatter them around your outdoor area.
The smell will keep wasps away, and you can enjoy your summer barbecue without any pesky visitors.
One way to deter wasps is by applying dried bay leaves often. It will help keep the wasps from building their nests in the area. Additionally, repelling wasps with this method is a natural and safe way to get rid of them.
Clove & Lemongrass
Clove oil is a great repellent for wasps. It has a woody scent that they don’t like, and the acidic nature of lemongrass helps amplify its effects. You can make your clove and lemongrass repellent by combining clove oil with lemongrass oil in a spray bottle.
Interestingly, many people find clove oil and lemongrass oil very effective at deterring wasps. Apply these oils directly to the areas with problems with wasps.
While there are many commercial wasp repellents on the market, you can also make your own. One combination that is said to be very effective is clove and lemongrass. Boil water and add cloves (or lemongrass) to a pot.
Turn off the stove and let the clove and lemongrass mixture steep for 30 minutes. Strain into a spray bottle and use as needed.
How do you keep wasps from building nests in your home garden?
There are several ways to keep wasps from building nests around your porch.
- First, remove any sources of food that might be attracting them, such as pet food or uncovered trash cans.
- Second, keep all doors and windows closed so they can’t get inside.
- Finally, place wasp-repelling plants around your home and porch to deter them from nesting there.
In addition, there are some preventative steps that homeowners can take to deter wasps from building nests. Check for any nests and seal garbage cans and compost piles. Pick up any trash around the house and cover any holes on the ground.
How to prevent wasps in the house without any chemical traps?
Food Souce
One is to keep it clean and free of insects, which are their main food source. You should also avoid cultivating plants with bright flowers in your garden, as they will be more appealing to wasps.
Finally, you can use certain scents that wasps hate to deter them from building a nest near your home.
Lights as Wasp trap bait
When it comes to keeping wasps away, there are a few things you can do. For one, turn off the lights or install dimmed ones–wasps are attracted to light. Secondly, seal the entrance gaps to your home as this is where wasps like to build their nests.
Finally, remove abandoned and inactive nests with holes as these provide easy access for wasps.
Build a fake wasp nest
Wasp control can be difficult, but a few methods can be effective. One of these is building a fake wasp nest. It is an efficient way to repel wasps as it creates the illusion of an occupied nest and discourages them from nesting.
It would help if you did not take over an active wasp nest as they are very territorial and will defend their territory aggressively.
Keep insect predators
To keep wasps away from your property, attract bird predators. Starlings and orioles will eat wasps. Lure them to your property with bird feeders or birdbaths. Nevertheless, you must be careful of other bird pests that may attract wasps or become pests themselves.
Some common birds get attracted to gardens and then become a nuisance by eating the homeowner’s plants or fouling their property or shops.
How to repel hornets?
There are a few scents that wasps hate and can be used to deter them naturally. Mixing lemongrass, geranium, and clove essential oils will create a blend. You can pour it into a spray bottle with soapy water.
Spray this mixture on any hornet nests and under porch roofs, eaves, and other corners where wasps may like to build their nests.
Does some mint repel bees and wasps?
Interestingly, spearmint oil is a great repellent for wasps. It has been shown to have outstanding results. Peppermint oil is also a great choice and can be used with spearmint oil.
Will wd40 kill wasps?
WD40 is a popular household lubricant and solvent known to kill wasps. It does this by blocking the spiracles on their exoskeletons, which causes them to suffocate and die of poisoning.
You can use WD40 to prevent spiders, cockroaches, and wasps from entering your home.
How to get rid of wasps with vinegar?
You can mix equal parts of water and vinegar and spray it around your house. The strong scent will repel wasps for a while, but it won’t kill them.
There are also other scents that wasps hate, such as peppermint, citrus, and lavender. You can use these scents to keep wasps away from your home or garden.
Conclusion
In conclusion, wasps are beneficial in several ways. They are pollinators and help plants reproduce. Additionally, they prey on other insects that can cause damage to crops or gardens.
There are scents that wasps do not like, and using them could help deter them from your garden or property. These include lavender, peppermint oil, lemongrass, and bay leaves.
