It is not uncommon to have a wasp problem in the home, and if there are several of them, well, how do you get rid of them? Whether you have an issue with the stinging critters or you are just curious to know whether vinegar works, then you have landed on the right article.
So, let’s find out and hopefully we can sort out that problem for you!
Why Vinegar?
Vinegar is not a permanent solution, however, it will fix the problem temporarily. How? The wasps do not like vinegar. Unlike sugar which they are attracted to because it is sweet (who isn’t), the vinegar is tart and sharp, and they do not happen to like that at all.
It is also a great option if you are looking for a non-poisonous substance to use, or do not actually want to kill the wasps.
The Difference Between A Wasp and a Bee
Before you even think about getting rid of a wasp, you need to know whether it is actually a wasp or a humble bee.
Both the wasp and bee like to avoid people, but usually they can make us jump for fear of their stings. Our arms wave about causing the bug to use its self-defence mechanism: the sting. Ouch.
One thing people may discover is a wasp nest in their house which is best left alone, or you can ask a professional to move it. It is understandable if you would like it removed!
The nest looks a lot like paper, but it is actually made from wood fibers that have been chewed and scraped.
Even though both the bee and wasps sting the same, the way to deter them will be different so you need to understand what it is before you attempt anything. A wasp can be described by these few things:
- Their waist is narrow and is called a petiole
- A wasp may include many colors such as brown, yellow, and metallic colors
- They have a pointed abdomen which is usually striped yellow and black. A bee may be fluffy and round looking but also yellow and black striped. It can be the color that confuses people.
A Few Facts About Wasps
Yes, you might want to get rid of wasps in the home, but did you know that they are actually really interesting to know about. There are basically two types of wasp: social and solitary. The social type has around a thousand species alone.
Each spring, the social wasps will start over with a brand-new queen who was fertilized the year before and had luckily survived the hibernation during the winter months.
As soon as spring rolls around, she will start looking for food and must begin to create a small nest ready for the first female working wasps.
The most common and the ones you are likely to see are the solitary wasps. These do not build any colonies and there are no large nests. There are a number of species within the solitary wasps, which includes the cicada killers who use their venom when they are out hunting.
Why Do They Invade a Home?
A wasp will normally seek out a safe and warm place to be, hence your home. The male wasps will die off during the fall after impregnating queen wasps. This means that by winter, the females will be on the lookout for somewhere safe to go.
The way your house is built will provide just that in all its cavities, cracks and crevice glory. The yellow jacket wasps, for example, may actually build a nest beneath your home due to their preference for being nearer the ground – so look out for those!
How To Use Vinegar
The main way people use vinegar to get rid of wasps involves making a quick and easy solution. Most of us will have vinegar already stocked up in our kitchen, so you should not need a trip to the grocery store in preparation.
Fill a spray bottle with water and add vinegar to it. Shake the bottle to mix and then you are ready to spray it on areas to deter wasps from getting into rooms. So think about doing it around windows and in certain places of a room.
You will need to keep reapplying the mixture because it will wear off over time, so spraying it daily should be fine. Also be aware that vinegar is acidic, so be careful with what you are spraying the solution on.
This will not get rid of wasps and will only deter them, but it will not kill them or harm them in any way, so it is a good way to deter them temporarily from a specific room.
The Benefits Of A Wasp
Even though wasps are dreaded by many because of their sting, they do have their benefits to humans. They actually help with pest population due to them eating insects that may infest a yard or eat plants.
The wasp itself does not harm a human (apart from its nasty sting), and they can live happily alongside you without ever stinging you in the process. Obviously, once they infest a property it can be a completely different story.
Other Natural Ways To Repel
There are a number of other ways to repel wasps naturally, and one of those ways is by using peppermint. If you have peppermint plants around the house, this should deter them from certain rooms.
Another way to stop wasps from coming into the home is by using a peppermint oil solution. Not only is it easy, it is also inexpensive. Fill a spray bottle with water and add a few drops of peppermint oil, and then shake it so it becomes well mixed.
Spray wherever you think the wasps might go, and hopefully this will keep them away. Just like with the vinegar, make sure you reapply daily because it will disappear.
Do not leave sweet treats lying around during the summer. Wasps may be a little more aggressive trying to find food and will be particularly attracted to fruit juice and meat, another reason why they may be buzzing around you, especially during that picnic!
If you have fruit trees, pick up any fallen fruit to deter wasps congregating together for the sweet juices.
Roundup
Getting rid of wasps using vinegar is not a permanent solution, but it will deter wasps if you keep on top of it by using the mixture daily. It is, however, a cheap alternative and safe compared to products that may harm them and the environment – not to mention other living things.