DIY Wasp Trap and Spray

Are wasps terrorizing your yard, home, and garden in abundance this year? Well, if so…you aren’t alone. We had a real problem at our homestead and until I put together this DIY wasp trap and spray it was almost unbearable to be out by the gardens with my children in fear we’d all get stung!

We have the perfect hot spot for these kinds of insects as our home has a brook surrounding it so naturally our yard is a bit buggier than the average space.

Our home is also wood siding and shutters, which can actually help in some wasp variations as they look for weathered wood to use in building their nests.

We have the worst luck with the swarming right by our gardens so using wasp sprays with chemicals isn’t easy or safe as the contamination of my flower boxes or vegetable garden beds is almost inevitable to some extent.

Also using natural ingredients is extremely important to our family. Yours too? Keep reading and I’ll show you not only a safe alternative wasp spray made with just a few ingredients but also a wasp trap that is much more budget friendly than the fancy store bought contraptions.

STOP and LOOK at what the species is that you are trying to rid your yard of. Make sure before proceeding you take into account that honeybees can be mistaken for certain types of wasps. You should NOT try to deter or kill off any honeybee population in your yard. They are almost harmless and crucial to pollination.

A few things to look out for and to help you determine if they are wasps vs. bees..

• Wasps have two body segments, honeybees have three.
• Honeybees have a thick, dense hair. Wasps are smooth and shiny.
• Wasps have long thin legs, honeybees are more plump overall.

Homemade All Natural Wasp Spray

This safe alternative is with all natural ingredients and can be sprayed in those areas you would want to keep the chemicals away from like by the garden, on the patio or by the kids play area.

There are several sprays that you can try. Some have a longer lasting affect while others are just a temporary fix, say, when you are going out to eat dinner with the family on the patio.

How to make the spray…

Combine equal parts white or apple cider vinegar and water into a spray bottle.

OR water and a few drops of peppermint oil.

This will not permanently solve your wasp issue but will keep them at bay in the areas you spray.

DIY Wasp Trap

All you need is a 2 liter bottle and tape or staples. You can add in a string system to hang from a tree if you’d like.

Directions:

1. Mark and cut the bottle just where the top of the label would start cutting off the top of the bottle.
2. Add in your bait (see ideas below!) to the base of the trap.
3. Flip the nozzle down into the base and secure by taping the edges or stapling.
4. Add string to hang from a problem area or tree nearby.

Prepare your bait…

• Dish soap
• Water
• Sugar source: soda, jam, or granulated sugar NOT honey (will attract honeybees)

In the spring bait with a bit of meat grease as the wasps will be looking for protein during their reproduction season. In the summer use a sweeter bait with a touch of vinegar.

Start with water and fill a little more than a quarter of the way, allowing enough room for the wasps to fly into the bottle.

Add a couple of drops of dish soap. This will aid in drowning the wasps.

Finish with either your meat grease or sugar source depending on the season.

 

I hope this safer and natural wasp treatment works well for you and can help in cutting down the chemical use in and around your home and family.

And also wish for days ahead out in the garden that is less of a buzzzzz kill.

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Love, light and a little grace…

-Olivia