Those Pesky WASPS!!

Our warm spring temperatures after a relatively mild winter have created perfect conditions for  pesky wasps!  Now with above normal summer temperatures, the wasp population is surging and I reckon we are having a bumper year for those nuisance pests. At least year on Bowen.

That said, Chris  and I continue to use the good old fashioned and proven deterrent – “Cloves”!  We have small dishes of powdered cloves on all out outdoor seating tables, plus we sprinkle a few whole cloves around our plates if we are eating outside.   Cloves contain an oil called eugenol, which repels wasps and some other insects as well.  This oil is actually used in some pesticides believe it or not.  They also don't like cut lemons - so you can put some of those out as well, or poke some whole cloves into a slice of lemon for a double deterrent.  We just stick with cloves.  "au naturale".

Of course we also have 2 wasps traps hanging on the patio.  One with coke inside and one with beer.  Both of these fluids are the best attractors.  Take a look at how many wasps are in the bottom of this beer filled trap after only 20 minutes of refilling it.  Chris empties both traps about 3 times a day - and there has to be close to 100 in them each time.

  Last night we enjoyed BBQ rack of lamb and Greek salad with no disturbances from the wasps. Thanks 100% to the cloves.  The bonus is that both of us like the smell of cloves.

 

 I sprinkle clove powder on Jake as well because he is very annoyed with wasps and catches and eats them.  He has been stung more times than we can count.  Good thing he is not allergic to them.