Eating outside is one of the pleasures of warmer weather, but wasps gathering around food and drinks can quickly become a nuisance. They are particularly attracted to sugary drinks, ripe fruit, meat and food waste.
You cannot prevent every wasp from entering your garden, but removing attractants and positioning outdoor traps correctly can help reduce activity around tables, patios and seating areas.
WHY ARE WASPS ATTRACTED TO OUTDOOR FOOD?
What attracts a wasp can change during the season. Developing colonies require protein earlier in the year, while worker wasps often become more interested in sweet food and drinks later in the summer.
Common outdoor attractants include:
- Fizzy drinks and fruit juice
- Beer, cider and wine
- Ripe or cut fruit
- Cakes, desserts and ice cream
- Meat and fish
- Food waste and uncovered bins
- Spilled drinks and sticky residue
Reducing access to these food sources makes an outdoor dining area less attractive to passing wasps.
KEEP FOOD AND DRINKS COVERED
Keep food covered until it is ready to be served and return leftovers indoors promptly. Use containers with lids rather than leaving open bowls and serving dishes on the table.
Drinks cans and opaque bottles require particular care because a wasp can enter without being noticed. Pour drinks into a glass so you can see what is inside and cover them when they are not being consumed.
Check children’s cups and drinking straws before use, particularly during late summer when wasp activity around sugary drinks may be greater.
CLEAN UP SPILLAGES IMMEDIATELY
Wipe up sugary drinks, sauces and food residue as soon as possible. Clean the tabletop, chair arms and the ground beneath the dining area after eating.
A small amount of fruit juice or fizzy drink can continue attracting wasps after the meal has finished. Remember to rinse reusable cups and serving containers rather than leaving them outside.
MANAGE OUTDOOR BINS
Keep outdoor bins closed and position them away from seating and dining areas where practical. Clean residue from the lid, rim and handles because wasps may be attracted even when the contents are covered.
Use secure bin liners and avoid leaving bags of food waste beside the bin. Rinse bottles and cans before placing them into outdoor recycling containers.
USE A REUSABLE WASP TRAP
A reusable wasp trap can attract and catch nuisance wasps before they reach food or guests. The lure draws insects through the trap entrance, where they become contained inside the chamber.
The trap should not be placed directly beside your dining table. This could draw insects towards the area you are trying to protect.
Instead, hang it around the perimeter of the garden or patio, close to established wasp activity but away from seating, doors and food.
HOW TO SET UP A WASP TRAP
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FILL
Open the trap and add the amount of attractant specified in the supplied product instructions.
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ASSEMBLE
Fit the internal components, secure the lid and attach the hanging cord.
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POSITION
Hang the trap around the edge of the area you want to protect, away from tables, doors and frequently used paths.
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CHECK AND REFILL
Inspect the trap regularly. Empty and rinse it when full, then refill it with fresh lure as directed.
DO NOT SWAT AT WASPS
Remain calm if an individual wasp approaches the table. Sudden movements and attempts to swat it can increase the likelihood of being stung.
Cover the food or drink attracting it and allow the wasp to move away. Remove any food residue once it is safe to do so.
CHECK FOR A NEARBY NEST
Repeated wasp traffic moving in and out of the same opening can indicate a nearby nest. Watch from a safe distance and look for consistent movement around roof spaces, sheds, wall cavities or the ground.
Do not position a trap directly beside a nest. You must be able to approach the trap safely when checking or refilling it.
Treating an established wasp nest can be dangerous. If a nest is close to a frequently used area or presents a risk, contact a qualified pest controller.
REMEMBER THAT WASPS ARE BENEFICIAL
Wasps are useful garden predators and feed many pest insects to their developing larvae. A nest that is away from people and does not present a safety risk may not need to be disturbed.
Use traps selectively around areas where nuisance activity is affecting people, food or waste rather than attempting to remove every wasp from the garden.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What attracts wasps to outdoor tables?
Sugary drinks, ripe fruit, desserts, meat, fish and food waste can all attract wasps.
Should I place a wasp trap beside the table?
No. Position it away from the table so the lure draws wasps towards the garden perimeter rather than towards guests and food.
Do wasp traps contain insecticide?
The PlantPro system uses a non-toxic food-based lure to attract wasps and flies into a reusable trap without an insecticidal spray.
Will a wasp trap remove a nest?
No. A trap catches foraging wasps but does not remove an established nest. Seek professional assistance if a nest creates a safety risk.
