I know this might be a long shot, but is there a way to keep my garden free from wasps and yellow jackets while still protecting my honeybees and bumblebees? I’m allergic to insect venom (carry an EpiPen) and want to do more gardening this year, but I don’t want to get rid of my bees. They’re helpful to my garden and never bother me, unlike the aggressive wasps. Anyone have suggestions? Or is this something I just can’t avoid?
Wasps are pollinators too, and they eat pests.
Wasps play an important role as pollinators as well! You could try reducing the risks in other ways, like adding a water source for them and moving slowly in your garden. They aren’t usually aggressive, but I understand that being aware of them due to your allergy is key. Hope you get some good advice here, just wanted to defend wasps a bit.
Willoughby said:
We’ve used those fake paper wasp nests. They seem to keep wasps away but not bees. Last year, we didn’t put one up, and ended up with a wasp nest under the deck.
I haven’t tried it myself, but I’ve heard great things about DIY versions. Some friends made theirs using a paper bag, a round object (like a balloon), and then hanging it up.
@Uma
A friend of mine crocheted one and is trying it out. Sounds like a cool DIY project!
Willoughby said:
We’ve used those fake paper wasp nests. They seem to keep wasps away but not bees. Last year, we didn’t put one up, and ended up with a wasp nest under the deck.
You can wait for them to build a nest, then spray it with clear spray paint. It’ll keep new ones from settling there.
@Harper
Any tricks for carpenter bees? I really don’t like them, and I’m also not a fan of cockroaches and horse flies!
Val said:
@Harper
Any tricks for carpenter bees? I really don’t like them, and I’m also not a fan of cockroaches and horse flies!
For carpenter bees, I use tennis rackets. For horse flies, I jump into the pool and try to hold my breath longer than my friends. As for roaches, I’ve got nothing…
@Harper
Haha, I’ve used an electric buzzer racquet for carpenter bees (shirtless, for my morning exercise). For horse flies, I catch them in the pool skimmer and drown them. Lizards help too! But roaches? Still nothing!
You might want to plant flowers that attract bees but avoid the high-fructose ones that tend to bring in wasps. Wasps are drawn to fruits and food scraps. I’m allergic too, and whenever I see a wasp or bee near, I run inside!
@Morgan
I feel the same! I’ve thought about getting a beekeeping outfit for more protection.
This might sound strange, but I feel that my native plants keep the wasps occupied. You might want to try adding native plants nearby (but not too close) to your garden. Wasps stay busy feeding on those flowers. It’s also a good idea to provide water for them. By late summer or fall, though, the worker wasps tend to be aggressive, so be cautious.
Learn about the wasp behavior in your area. Many wasps get a bad reputation due to fear, but they may not be as aggressive as people think.
Colonial wasps like yellow jackets and paper wasps tend to be aggressive. This is because they can afford to be—the colony doesn’t suffer if one wasp dies. With solitary wasps, however, like the potter wasp, they’re usually more careful since their survival depends on them. But even with that, they help control pests and pollinate flowers. Not all wasps are bad!
Social wasps, especially Yellowjackets and hornets, are the ones you should be worried about. Paper wasps usually build their nests high up, so they’re not a problem. If you see a nest of yellowjackets or hornets, it’s okay to remove it. They’re more dangerous, while other wasps are just out eating and pollinating. Here’s a video on non-aggressive wasps: https://youtu.be/rTfowlGStcA?si=C3Z1TbBeeNQEeNtI
@Wolf
I’ve looked into traps but haven’t seen any that specifically mention capturing the queen. Do you have any recommendations?