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Deterring Wasps? (Plocket)PlocketEvergreen Joined: 16 Feb 2006 Posts: 865 Location: The playroom! Posted: 22 Feb 2006 06:04 pm Post subject: Deterring Wasps? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Can anyone tell me of a natural/herbal way of deterring wasps in the summer? I don't particularly want to kill them (I've got honey traps) but I'd prefer something to stop them coming near us - something smelly perhaps. Many thanks! _________________ A balanced diet is chocolate in both hands www.plocket.co.uk Back to top coco331 Moderator Joined: 16 Feb 2006 Posts: 451 Location: Far away Posted: 22 Feb 2006 08:57 pm Post subject: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Well last summer dad decided to put out some jam, to attract them to one place and away from us, however, it ended up attracting every wasp in the neighbourhood and he didnt exactly place the jam that far from the path, so every time I wanted to go into the field I had to count myself down then run as fast as I could past the jam pot!! Never again Though maybe if placed far enough away it wouldn't create such a problem........green lady prob has some better herbal suggestions!! _________________ THIS BE CAPTAIN JENNY FLINT This day be for talkin' likes a pirate and any land-lubber who ain't speakin' like a man who spends his life at sea be keel-hauled and forced to walk the plank! YAAAAAAAR! Back to top Greenlady Evergreen Joined: 16 Feb 2006 Posts: 549 Location: Scotland! Posted: 22 Feb 2006 09:15 pm Post subject: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- As far as I am aware, there are no known herbal deterents against wasps, the only thing I know of is the bug vacuum cleaner, a humane 'trap' which allows you to suck up the insects and then release them elsewhere, but not sure if you'd want to do that with wasps! coco's idea of the jam would work if you placed it far enough away from areas where humans frequent regularly _________________ Don't eat fruit and nuts. You are what you eat... Back to top Jesse Site Admin Joined: 02 Feb 2006 Posts: 2188 Location: West Sussex Posted: 22 Feb 2006 09:28 pm Post subject: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- We've got wasp traps made from 2lt coke bottles hanging in the trees around the garden, it reduces the numbers but not altogether. Some years seem worse than others when it comes to wasps. Would citronella candles work to keep them away? Mint, tea tree, lavender, eucalyptus and rosemary oils are meant to be insect repellents, not sure if they'd work on wasps though, they seem pretty determined creatures. Back to top Kathy Moderator Joined: 15 Feb 2006 Posts: 1008 Posted: 22 Feb 2006 09:53 pm Post subject: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The jam thing really does work, you just have to make sure its far enough away!! _________________ Take care Kathy Back to top Plocket Evergreen Joined: 16 Feb 2006 Posts: 865 Location: The playroom! Posted: 23 Feb 2006 10:28 am Post subject: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I think the jam thing must be similar to our honey traps - they are specially made glass bottles which we hang in trees and they seem to attract the wasps quite well!!! Thanks for all your thoughts! _________________ A balanced diet is chocolate in both hands www.plocket.co.uk Back to top Becki Moderator Joined: 15 Feb 2006 Posts: 1106 Location: Over here and not there. Posted: 23 Feb 2006 10:42 am Post subject: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2004 was really bad for wasps but last year didn't seem so bad. I tried a wasp deterrant that you spray on but it seemed to attract them even more. I hate the things! Last time I was stung my leg swelled up and went black and blue. Horse flies are the worst for me though, they bite through your jodpurs! _________________ www.thecardbee.com Back to top coco331 Moderator Joined: 16 Feb 2006 Posts: 451 Location: Far away Posted: 23 Feb 2006 08:49 pm Post subject: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Those horrible big brown flies! We call them Clegs, awful, and they really torment the horses. My friend is very good at wacking them and killing them, but I hate squashing things _________________ THIS BE CAPTAIN JENNY FLINT This day be for talkin' likes a pirate and any land-lubber who ain't speakin' like a man who spends his life at sea be keel-hauled and forced to walk the plank! YAAAAAAAR! Back to top Lottie Evergreen Joined: 16 Feb 2006 Posts: 740 Posted: 23 Feb 2006 09:01 pm Post subject: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I presume when you made your jam pot traps, you just put a bit of jam in the bottom - or honey and added water to half way, and the lid of the jam jar had a few holes punched in it so that the wasps got in - but couldn't get back out? That usually works for me - I hang them around the pergla - also night lights in jam jars! Kinda looks pretty with both of them. You can paint the jam jars with glass paint too! _________________ I am at that purple age! Back to top Kathy Moderator Joined: 15 Feb 2006 Posts: 1008 Posted: 23 Feb 2006 09:27 pm Post subject: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Well no, we didn't put lids on, they just flew in and out to eat the jam when they were hungry. Sometimes I just used a lid, as long as there is something there for them to eat they will leave you alone! _________________ Take care Kathy Back to top Becki Moderator Joined: 15 Feb 2006 Posts: 1106 Location: Over here and not there. Posted: 23 Feb 2006 09:41 pm Post subject: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I like using beer. It amuses me to think they get drunk and then fall in. I'm mean I know _________________ www.thecardbee.com Back to top Jesse Site Admin Joined: 02 Feb 2006 Posts: 2188 Location: West Sussex Posted: 23 Feb 2006 09:43 pm Post subject: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Oh Kathy you are kind we made ours so that once in they can't escape and drown in a sticky mess of syrup. Back to top Lottie Evergreen Joined: 16 Feb 2006 Posts: 740 Posted: 23 Feb 2006 10:00 pm Post subject: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [quote="Kathy"]Well no, we didn't put lids on, they just flew in and out to eat the jam when they were hungry. Sometimes I just used a lid, as long as there is something there for them to eat they will leave you alone![/quote Oops - I am soft hearted - but not soft enough to feed all the wasps in the neighbourhood - they just go off and tell their mates! Sorry Kathy - you really need to put a lid on it. The idea is not to feed them all - so that they don't bother you - they aren't that clever I am afraid. Feel a bit mean - but they do get to feed until fit to burst so go swiftly and happily! _________________ I am at that purple age! Back to top Kathy Moderator Joined: 15 Feb 2006 Posts: 1008 Posted: 23 Feb 2006 11:17 pm Post subject: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Well I know Coco will agree after last year! I'll put the jar well out of the way this time, might even put a lid on! _________________ Take care Kathy Back to top coco331 Moderator Joined: 16 Feb 2006 Posts: 451 Location: Far away Posted: 25 Feb 2006 12:11 am Post subject: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Oh no!! I dont like wasps, but I dont want to kill them........We didn't actually have that many till the jam was put out maybe we should just ignore them next summer....... _________________ THIS BE CAPTAIN JENNY FLINT This day be for talkin' likes a pirate and any land-lubber who ain't speakin' like a man who spends his life at sea be keel-hauled and forced to walk the plank! YAAAAAAAR! Back to top |