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julia s.
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| Posted: March 16 2005 at 3:23pm | IP Logged
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Ok, a slightly dramatic title, but they really do get on my nerves all summer. They insist on setting up their nests on our deck and no matter how many times I knock them down they are back at it the next day. I don't want to spray pesticides where my young guys play and eat, but I would like a way to deter the pesky bugs. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
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julia
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materdei7
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| Posted: March 17 2005 at 12:03pm | IP Logged
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Heh, Julie,
Out here in Wa. St. the wasps are horrid and agressive as well. They seem to be aggressive more during the late summer and early fall. We have tried those bright
yellow wasp catchers (they do catch a few) and we also hose down the nest as soon as we see any signs of nest building around our yard/home. We are also careful to keep trash sealed and food is always eaten inside. Food (especially sweet and greasy) is a big draw for wasps. Our winter here has been very mild, so we are anticipating a big wasp year here.  One good thing is that when we kill the occasional wasp that makes it into our home, the children can see the little bugs that pack a big punch with their bites! A good science trail. Best wishes on your bug adventure!
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julia s.
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| Posted: March 17 2005 at 2:37pm | IP Logged
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Thanks Kathleeen.
We only eat out there occaisionally because we don't have a whole lot of shade. I keep hoping there is a smell or a type of plant that they'd hate so we could surround the area with it (with my luck it'd probably be poison ivy  ). But I'll keep trying different things. The winter here for the most part was mild so I'm thinking I better get my nerves of steel up to do battle with them again this year  .
Thanks again.
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MEBarrett
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| Posted: March 17 2005 at 3:51pm | IP Logged
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I was recently speaking to someone about this and I was told that if you spray peppermint oil around the perimeter of your deck or whatever that the bees and wasps will not go there. I have no idea if this is true but it seems like it might be worth a try. We often eat on our deck and it can be a real problem having the wasps dive bombing you the whole time.
Ok, so where do you get peppermint oil? Health food store?
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julia s.
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| Posted: March 17 2005 at 10:06pm | IP Logged
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Mary Ellen,
Peppermint -- that's simple and has a nice refreshing smell to have around  . I'll try it. I might try planting some mint in planters first.
As a side note there is this farm near here that has a petting zoo -- it's real nice, you let yourself in and there are Eamus (which run free in the pen that you go into, takes a bit to get used to) as well as a lama and your typical farm yard fair like horses and cows. The reason I mention this is they grow peppermint in the grass there. It works great to cover up the stinky animal odors and the animals can eat it without getting ill. I wonder if they do it to deter bees and what not too-- I've never noticed them bothering me there before.
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cathhomeschool
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| Posted: March 18 2005 at 7:42am | IP Logged
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julia s. wrote:
| I might try planting some mint in planters first. |
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Well, we have peppermint overruning our flowerbeds by the front door, yet the wasps and bees are perfectly happy to collect nectar from that area. I know that the bees collect nectar from the peppermint (seen them). I haven't noticed if the wasps collect from the peppermint or from the other plants (basil, chives, cilantro, salvia).
I'd love a solution, too. Wasps are a big problem here. We've already found them nesting all over the deck. The playfort will be next, I'm sure. We've tried the wasp catchers with no success.
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materdei7
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Ok ladies, I did some research on wasps....and there are social wasps( the hardest to get rid of, and the most aggessive, )and that includes the hornet/yellowjacket variety. Here is the website I found with all the info:
http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/insect/05525.html
they give some useful advise 
and especially in identifying the insect in question, as
certain wasps will go for the container catchers and others will totally ignore them.
In the past we have used the Avon Skin so Soft with
citronella (not sure about the spelling), and that seemed to be a scent they did not like....I don't know
if Avon even makes it any longer....but, you could grow
the herb plant???
Are we getting ready for battle?  I'm getting visions of children in full body armor......this is driving me buggy!!!! 
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Molly Smith
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I kid you not, as I was reading this thread my dd9 came in to talk to me and had a wasp on her sleeve! She had on long sleeves and didn't even notice it was there! I just scooped it up with paper towel and threw it in the trash compactor. We have slow, country wasps and usually just step on them . We have a LOT of wasps, but in the six years since we've bought this property we've had maybe 4 stings. I will try planting some mint in with my hanging plants on the front porch this year, though, to try to keep them away altogether.
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julia s.
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| Posted: March 19 2005 at 7:40am | IP Logged
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materdei7 wrote:
| Are we getting ready for battle? I'm getting visions of children in full body armor......this is driving me buggy!!!! |
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Kathleen you are too funny. Citronella? We have the citronella candles that we light at night for the mosquitoes (yeah, it's a veritable jungle out there [where is that smiley with the indiana jones hat anyway ? ]). But I'm not sure about them having any effect on wasps. I'll check out the website later today when I have a bit longer time on the computer.
Molly your a brave one for catching them in your hands. My youngest seems to get stung the most by wasps, followed by me. Not constantly, but just enough to be annoying  .
Thanks for looking into this further. Even a bit of field reporting from Molly  .
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materdei7
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| Posted: March 20 2005 at 12:34am | IP Logged
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Julie,
I had another idea....the LLbean company is putting out a new line of clothing that is bug proof...they use a
form of chrysanthemum flower in the clothes to repel biter bugs...it lasts up to 25 washings. Then some outdoor clothing manufactures are selling a formula you can wash the clothes in to boost the clothes back up to bug proof!!!! 
Maybe if we grew marigolds and chrysanthemums we could.... oh well, it would sure give us all a beautiful
yard and lots of nature study ideas for the children to draw! Warmly, Kathleen
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julia s.
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| Posted: March 22 2005 at 4:27pm | IP Logged
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materdei7 wrote:
Julie,
I had another idea....the LLbean company is putting out a new line of clothing that is bug proof...they use a
form of chrysanthemum flower in the clothes to repel biter bugs...it lasts up to 25 washings. Then some outdoor clothing manufactures are selling a formula you can wash the clothes in to boost the clothes back up to bug proof!!!!
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That sounds interesting. I don't know about clothes that will only last for 25 washings, but maybe something to put on the clothes as long as it doesn't contain pesticides.
Thanks again. Spring is here and I'm sure by summer I'll find something that will work.
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4Real Forums : Exploring God's Creation in Nature and Science
Topic: Wasps the foe of summer
