There is nothing better than enjoying a picnic on a warm summer's day, whether you are visiting the local park, relaxing on the beach or spending time in your garden. Unfortunately, your food is not only appealing to family and friends. Wasps are often on the lookout for sweet drinks, ripe fruit and savoury snacks, making them an all too common visitor during the warmer months.
There are plenty of simple ways to reduce the chances of wasps interrupting your picnic. With a little preparation and a few clever tricks, you can spend less time worrying about buzzing visitors and more time enjoying the sunshine.
Why Are Wasps Attracted to Picnics?
Wasps have an excellent sense of smell and are naturally attracted to sugary foods, meat and drinks. Fizzy drinks, fruit, cakes, sandwiches and barbecue food all produce tempting scents that can quickly catch their attention.
Keep Food and Drinks Covered
One of the easiest and most effective ways to keep wasps away is by covering food whenever it is not being eaten.
Simple steps include:
- Keeping lids on bottles and cans.
- Using reusable cups with covers where possible.
- Covering serving dishes with food covers or mesh domes.
- Packing away leftovers as soon as everyone has finished eating.
- Reducing exposed food helps minimise the smells that attract wasps in the first place.
Try Natural Wasp Deterrents
Wasps are part of the natural eco-system, so before looking for poisons or harsh chemicals to remove them, there are several natural alternatives that may help reduce their visits.
Peppermint Oil Spray
Peppermint is widely believed to be a natural wasp deterrent thanks to its strong scent.
Mix together:
- 500 ml of water
- 10 to 20 drops of peppermint essential oil
- A small squirt of washing up liquid
Shake well and lightly spray around picnic blankets, chairs and table legs before setting up. Avoid spraying directly onto food or drinks.
Fresh lemon or orange slices placed around the edge of your picnic area can help create scents that wasps dislike. Fresh mint leaves or a small potted mint plant may also help while adding a pleasant fragrance to your picnic.
Distract Wasps Away from Your Food
Another useful trick is to set up a decoy food station. Place a small dish containing overripe fruit or a little jam mixed with water around 10 - 15 metres away from your picnic. This can encourage wasps to investigate the sweeter option instead of your lunch.
Be careful not to place the decoy too close, as this could attract even more wasps to where you are sitting.
Consider Outdoor Wasp Traps
If you regularly enjoy dining outdoors or picnicking, reusable outdoor wasp traps can be a practical addition to your summer essentials. These traps are designed to attract wasps away from seating areas before capturing them, they can then be safely released at the end of the picnic.
For the best results, position any trap around 10 to 15 metres away from your picnic and set it up before serving food. Placing a trap directly beside your picnic may attract more wasps to the area before they enter the trap.
Reusable wasp traps suitable for gardens and outdoor eating spaces are a great nature-friendly way to co-exist at picnic time. Always follow the manufacturer's instructions for safe and effective use.
Keep Your Picnic Area Clean
Cleaning up throughout your picnic can make a big difference. Empty cans, fruit peel, food wrappers and leftover snacks continue to give off attractive smells long after everyone has finished eating.
Taking a small rubbish bag or reusable waste container with you makes it easy to keep your picnic area tidy and less inviting to wasps.
Enjoy a More Relaxing Picnic
Although there is no guaranteed way to keep every wasp away, combining several simple methods can make a noticeable difference. Keeping food covered, using natural deterrents, placing reusable wasp traps well away from your seating area and cleaning up promptly all help reduce unwanted visitors.