Bees, wasps and hornets may get lumped together all the time, but they are very different insects. So, if you are trying to get rid of wasps, but are treating them like bees, chances are you will continue to have a wasp problem on your hands.
Wasps and bees need to be treated differently because they eat differently. Bees are attracted to nectar and other sweet fluids from flowers, fruit and the occasional soda or other sweet they get access to. Why? Because they use those “sweets” to make honey to feed themselves. Wasps, on the other hand, do not make honey. Believe it or not, wasps are mainly carnivores, eating larvae and other insects, but they can be attracted to human foods, too. Let’s take a look at what attracts wasps in Bartlesville, OK.
Protein-based foods
You know that guy from the gym who mainly survives on protein shakes? In spring and early summer, wasps are kind of like that guy. At this time of year, unlike bees, wasps are attracted to protein-based foods, so any food that is accessible outdoors—such as meat for grilling, picnic scraps, open garbage containers and even pet food—can become a wasp magnet. And even after you remove the source of attraction for wasps, they will typically come back to a place where they found food in the past, even long after the food source has been removed.
Sweet treats
As spring and early summer become late summer and early fall, wasps tend to get more aggressive and change up their diet, looking for sweet syrups and sugars. This is the time of year that most people tend to have a real problem with wasps. Wasps are attracted to sodas, fruit juices and even some alcoholic beverages and desserts. Wasps have been known to aggressively “chase” a food source if it is removed. The best way to keep wasps at bay is to try and avoid attracting them in the first place by keeping drinks covered up, picking up any fallen fruit from your yard as soon as possible and keeping other sweet-smelling foods sealed.
Flowers (and flower impostors!)
Through most of the summer and fall, like bees, wasps are attracted to flower nectar, or anything that smells or looks like it may contain flower nectar. Some flowers that are known for attracting wasps include Queen Anne’s lace, sweet fennel, yarrow and even spearmint. If you have these growing near your home, you may want to take extra precautions to avoid wasp stings when they are in bloom. It’s not just flowers, however, that attract wasps—if you wear bright colors, flower patterns or sweet-smelling, floral perfumes, you could find that wasps are attracted to you, too!
If you want to prevent a wasp problem, understanding what wasps eat in Bartlesville, OK can help. But if you are already struggling with wasps near your home and need some help from the experts, be sure to call on the professionals from Excellence Pest Control!