Patio Pests- Wasps and Ants

 We had company a few weeks ago and wanted to have a picnic out on the deck. We had put the food out on the patio table and were about to put the umbrella up when we discovered a big problem. WASPS! They had built a huge wasp nest inside our patio umbrella and they were very angry about being disturbed. They came buzzing out in a stormy cloud looking to do battle!

Fast-thinking husband grabbed the umbrella and threw it out on the back lawn as far away from the deck as he could manage, then he dumped the nest out of the umbrella and stomped on it. I don't know how he managed not to get stung! We all ran into the house for a while until things settled down...

The wasps continued to circle around the corner of the deck where the umbrella had been stored looking for their nest. Then they proceeded to start a new nest at the same spot in a metal waste bin. Determined or what!  Diligent husband put on his long sleeved coveralls and a cap and proceeded to put the can in a large black plastic bag. He tied it shut and left it out in the hot sun by the garage. We think they all got baked in there, although many of them had escaped earlier.

We made a wasp trap out of an empty 2 litre pop bottle. We just cut the bottom off about 6 inches tall (16 cm) and filled it with cocoa cola; Then put the top spout part in upside down. The wasps are attracted to the sweet drink instead of the food on your patio table. They crawl down the spout to the coke, but can't get back out so they drown.

We went to town the next day and bought a new fake wasp nest at the hardware store to hang in that corner of the deck. We also bought a wasp trap and some bait cubes to attract them to the trap if our homemade version isn't sufficient...

We have a lot of ant nests around our property and for once they were being a benefit. The ants found the squashed wasp trap on the back lawn in no time and they took care of all the wasp larva, carting them away (to their own nests as food, I guess.)  :)