If you’ve been having to duck and dodge the flight of an unusually high number of wasps around your yard this summer there’s a good reason. Certain conditions on your property may actually be attracting these winged critters. Here are two more things that are attracting wasps to your yard.
Open Trash Cans
This shouldn’t surprise you. Trash and compost bins that are left open are open invitations for wasps to enjoy a smorgasbord feast. According to entomologists, wasps, and other pollinators, are always on the lookout for human foods that satiate their sweet tooth, like fruit juices and honey—residuals that they can easily find within your open trash can. Wasps are even fond of dairy products.
What You Can Do
As with trash cans, make sure that compost bins are covered. Wasps aren’t picky when it comes to leftovers.
Standing Water
If you’ve added a water feature to your landscape, you’re likely to see an increase in wasp activity on your property. Water features like ponds, fountains, and even swimming pools, may attract wasps in search of a sip of water. Standing water in items like uncovered trash cans, buckets, empty flower pots, and uncovered recycle bins can attract wasps, too, among other insects like mosquitoes. If not covered with a lid or placed upside down when not in use these items can hold rainwater and become watering holes for wasps and breeding grounds for mosquitoes that carry disease.
What You Can Do
Dump any standing water you find around your property, and flip items like buckets and empty flower pots upside down to prevent future water collection. Store these items whenever possible. Periodically check your property after storms and heavy rains to ensure such items remain securely stowed.
