Wasp stings, albeit uncommon, are not unheard of and quite frankly increase in probability as the population of wasps grows. If you see one or two wasps now and then you’re likely fine.
However, if you see them starting to build a nest, then you should seriously consider one of the best wasp repellents & deterrents.
Top 3 - Wasp Repellents
Best Wasp Repellents & Deterrents for Homeowners
These products are not as expensive as you may think. After you use the right one, you’ll see why fewer and fewer people are willing to pay top dollar to a professional exterminator.
The Wondercide Indoor Pest Control Spray is a natural wasp repellent that comes in a water-based formula. You can get it in 32oz or 128oz spray bottles.
Among the ingredients, you’ll find cedarwood oil, sesame oil, lemongrass oil, and others. The concentrations will differ depending on what scent you want. For reference, this formula is available in peppermint, rosemary, cedar, and lemongrass scents.
Although mostly thought of as a repellent, this formula can also kill wasps, mosquitoes, fruit flies, and other insects, after prolonged exposure.
One of the best things about it is that you can safely spray it on furniture and carpeting without having to worry about stains. The worst thing that can happen is that the scent will linger on for a bit.
If you want to prevent wasps from establishing colonies in your yard, and the weather in your area is not favorable to natural repellents, then I suggest trying a deterrent. The Patio Eden Wasp Nest Decoy is an efficient deterrent that comes in packs of three.
Each nest measures 8” x 11”. The nests are big and visible in a wide radius. They also look realistic, and that’s why they’re so effective. Wasps will see them as familiar and will avoid creating new nests on your property.
Another reason why I recommend the Patio Eden Wasp Nest Decoy is because it’s a deterrent that doesn’t introduce harmful chemicals to the environment. It won’t poison your plants or alter the taste of your vegetables, and it won’t cause harm to your kids or pets.
Hanging the nests is easy enough, and they do have superior weather resistance to spray repellents.
The Tanglefoot Waspinator is one of the most durable fake wasp nests you can use as a wasp deterrent in your garden or when you’re out camping. The Waspinator is not a traditional paper nest, which makes it suitable for outdoor use all year long.
However, it doesn’t look as realistic as most painted wasp nests. That said, I think that as long as the positioning is right, it will work better than expected. I like that you can fill up the bag with whatever you want to both weigh it and give it a nest-like shape.
I recommend always weighing it to give it some wind protection. As is the case with all other nests, this one won’t be very efficient if you already have wasp nests around.
But, its durability exceeds that of many similarly priced decoys or deterrents. I should also mention that the waterproofing is excellent, with the bag being able to absorb plenty of moisture without ruining the shape you give it.
These Upper Bound Honeycomb stickers have been designed to prevent wasps, hornets, bees, and even yellow jackets from creating nests in nearby locations. They bank on the wasps' territorial nature, as many other repellents also do.
Each sticker is 1” x 1.5,” and you get 50 of them in one pack. The stickers are very simple to stick to a wide range of surfaces. I recommend placing them around deck railings, under gutters, under fence post caps, and so on.
I will say that the honeycomb stickers are not particularly effective when used individually. I recommend sticking a couple of stickers close to each other to get the most out of them. Again, as is the case with most deterrents, proper nest extermination should be done before using the stickers.
The weatherproofing is not amazing, but not bad, either. Seeing as how these stickers should be placed underneath places where wasps like to nest, they will have plenty of weather shielding. Other than that, heat and cold won’t affect the adhesive, and that’s pretty much all that matters.
Sometimes you’ll find yourself dealing with very stubborn wasps that just don’t know when to quit. When that’s the case, I’m afraid that deterrents may not be good enough. An insecticide that can both repel most wasps and kill remaining stragglers might be your best course of action.
The Tempo Dust BA1011 Insecticide is one such product. It’s a synthetic insecticide, toxic and potent, that will require careful monitoring and application.
It comes in a 1.25lbs bottle. The formula is strong enough to cover up to 1,000 square feet, which is no small feat. The bottle also has a duster cap, which will make spreading the insecticide quite easy.
I recommend avoiding both ornamental and edible plants when dispersing this insecticide. It’s perhaps best used around garages, woodsheds, ornamental trees, under gutters, and other places where kids and pets are unlikely to reach them.
Understanding the Difference Between Repellents and Deterrents
If you’ve used a wide range of insecticides, pesticides, repellents, and deterrents before, then chances are you already know this. But, there are still plenty of people that unknowingly confuse the two terms.
If you have trouble distinguishing between repellents and deterrents, it’s best to think of the definition of each word. As such, wasp repellents will wait until wasps get close or come in contact with it before they become active and turn wasps away.
Deterrents, on the other hand, are not reactive, so to speak. They work by keeping wasps away from afar. That said, there is a severe drawback in most deterrents that you should know. Once already faced with one or two nests or a grave invasion, deterrents won’t do a lot of good.
They work best when used in a wasp-free environment and protect against future infiltrations of these annoying flyers.
Types of Repellents and Deterrents
Things are pretty straightforward here too. There are two types of repellents, natural and synthetic. Natural repellents are formulas that use natural oil extracts with fragrances or tastes that don’t appeal to wasps.
Synthetic repellents can do the same thing, but can also take things one step further and poison the wasps after prolonged exposure. Not as fast as wasp poisons, but they’re a good way of dealing with stragglers.
Deterrents come in many forms. They can be sold as decoy nests, gadgets that emit particular light or sound frequencies, and so on. The most affordable choices will be decoy nests or adhesive strips that can mimic the shape or color of wasp nests.
Since the wasps are very territorial, it goes against their nature to build a nest near existing ones. And I’m not talking about a few feet in proximity either. Remember that while deterrents can be very useful, you should use them when you don’t have any wasp nests already on your property.
Should You Use Insecticides Instead?
Wasps may be nuisances, but like all other insects, they have their role in the ecosystem. There’s no need to kill them off if you don’t have to.
Of course, I will almost always recommend using a targeted insecticide if you’re dealing with dozens or hundreds of wasps or multiple nests. Such situations can be dangerous, and it’s best to solve them quickly.
But, if the issue is not severe, you’ll find that repellents work just as fine. You should also consider insecticides as a last resort because it’s usually the highly toxic ones that work best. That means that you’ll likely be introducing dangerous chemicals to your plants or even pets.
It’s a lot harder than you think to dose or treat just specific portions of your property, without the effect of the chemicals spreading at least a bit.
Guarantee Yourself a Sting-Free Summer
Whether you’re allergic to them or not, wasp stings can happen, especially when there’s too many of them buzzing about. I recommend using one of the best wasp repellents and deterrents, depending on whether you have already discovered any nests near your home.
Either option presented in this article has its use in specific situations, so by now, you should have everything you need to know to make the right choice.