Why Are Wasps In My Garden? [4 Main Causes]

Wasps are familiar pests in many places, including gardens. Their name even sounds a little stingy. Don’t they?

If you have ever been bitten by one, you know ”why”.

A wasp sting is not just painful and corrosive but can be slightly poisonous too. Scary to reveal, but we see wasps around us all day and almost every day. Wasps have a lot to do with gardens.

Remarkably, if you have a garden or a backyard, there is a nest of wasps somewhere. If you are already fed up with wasps and are looking for ways to get rid of them, this post is yours.

Wasps are usually attracted to our gardens by insects, fruits and nectar from flowers.

What Are Wasps?

Wasps belong to the family of Hymenoptera, which also includes ants and bees. Many of the wasps are harmless, but a few are the opposite.

The ones with a bad reputation belong to the social wasps species from the Vespidae family. Examples are paper wasps, yellow jackets, and hornets.

It might interest you to know that the male wasps do not sting. They only show aggression, just like their female counterpart.

How To Identify Variety of Wasps

Wasps, hornets, yellow jackets, and other variety of wasps all behave differently. To deal with them, you should be able to identify what kind of wasps are in your yard.

Here’s how to identify the most common wasps varieties.

Paper Wasps

Paper Wasps have unique body coloration- Brown or black, with yellow to red markings. They are primarily found in North America. Unlike other wasps, they sting unless you approach their nest or feel threatened.

Hornets

Hornets are more social compared to other wasps. They do not also sting unless they are provoked. They are known for building their nests on high woody plants, trees, or sturdy.

They build their hives by eating up wood into papery form and using it to build their walls.

Mud Daubers

Mud daubers are also black with bright yellow markings on their legs and thorax. Their long, thin body distinguishes them from other wasp species.

Another unique attribute of wasps is that they use mud to build their nest for themselves and their offspring.

Yellow Jackets

This bee-sized species of wasps are easily identifiable. They have black and yellow markings on their body. They are commonly found in most countries of the world.

Items That Invite Wasps To Your Garden

We first must determine what brings wasps into fresh green gardens to be able to evict them completely. Here’s why you find wasps in your yard:

1. Wasps Prey On Insects:

Wasps can be of several kinds, primarily hornets, paper wasps, and yellow jackets, always building up their nests right there where you never want them to. However, when they are not busy building their habitats, wasps prey on several insects. They naturally prey on parasites and sheath the harm.

And that’s one big reason you will see wasps hovering around the juicy places of your garden. This can indeed be counted as help by wasps.

Wasps feed on insects and parasites that can otherwise eat all your flowers, damage crops, and destroy any fruits.

2. Fruits:

Wasps love just as much as you enjoy the colorful garden breed, whether those are juicy fruits or nectarous flowers. Mostly these are the adult wasps that come out looking for ripe fruits.

The high sugar levels of fruits are the prime reason that drags wasps to your gardens. Wasps are mostly found attacking orchards and gardens.

To categorically mention, wasps love grapes, apples, pears, and all sweet and juicy fruits.

3. Nectar From Flowers:

The color, fragrance, and appearance of blooming flowers are pleasant for everyone. Don’t consider wasps different. As is widely known for bees, wasps love nectar too! You will often find yellow jackets hovering around the flower bed in your garden, and we know how irritating that is.

That’s because wasps aim to suck the nectar out of flowers. Some are responsible for returning enough for their mates and offspring in their nests.

In any case, male adult wasps keep checking out for better opportunities to extract more and more nectar, and it’s hard to find flowerful gardens free of wasps.

4. Sweet & Protein Treats:

A well-served picnic in the backyard on Sundays is something we all crave. But none one bargains for the ‘unwelcomed’ wasps that come in to make a mark. You can hardly have an outdoor lunch without encountering a bunch of wasps.

These pests love sugar! Most of their desire for sugar is satisfied by fruits, but that’s not it. Many wasps feed on human food. Leftovers in your garden are potential sources of invitation to a hive of them.

Also, they love items that are rich in protein; not to forget a Tuna Sandwich; wasps love it to death. To cater to this, thoroughly clean your garden and leave no food residue.

Pay special attention to the feeding schedule of your pets to avoid uncovered food exposure. Make sure nothing is left back in their feeding bowls that call upon wasps and insects to party.

Getting Rid Of Wasps In Your Garden

There can be numerous ways to eliminate wasps from your garden -for example, Organic control techniques and chemical pesticide control options.

Below are 5 helpful and easy preventive tips to help you enjoy a ”wasp-free” garden

• Make sure there are no food residues in your garden.
• Don’t let food stay unattended for long. Use lids to cover the tiniest food containers and bowls even. For any outdoor eating sessions, use airtight containers.
• The garbage bins must be adequately sealed and covered. Also, don’t let garbage pile up for more than a day. An efficient disposal system can help prevent wasps, insects, and diseases.
• Bring wasp/ bees spray in use for the protection of flowers, tree bark, and fruits. Use a spray that is harsh on wasps but harmless to the host.

A little care and caution can save your garden from wasp attacks and keep you safe from corrosive wasp stings.

Conclusion

Although wasps are irritating and aggressive insects, they can also benefit your garden. Some species of wasps are harmless.

They feed on pest insects and contribute to pollination in your garden.