It’s a myth that wasps will only be attracted to sugary drinks and foods. They definitely hold a preference for items that are high in sugar, but they’ll look into basically any food odor and poke around to see if they like it. [2] X Research source
Compost can also attract wasps, so if you keep a compost pile outdoors, aim to place it far away from your deck.
If you’ve got a pool, either drain it when you don’t plan on using it, or keep a solid airtight cover on it.
This might be a tall order if you have a really big deck, but if it’s a smaller deck you may be able to line the entire thing with netting.
These traps work, but be aware that you’re probably going to kill some beneficial insects in the process. If you notice that you’re killing more honey bees and ladybugs than wasps, stop using the traps. This may have an unintended consequence of attracting more wasps than you’d otherwise see. If you feel like the number of wasps you run into is increasing after you put the traps out, opt for another solution.
If you just have a single fan, set it to oscillate back and forth over your deck.
If it’s just a lone wasp, the soapy water should kill the wasp immediately. If you’ve got a ton of wasps on your deck though, spraying them may cause them to fly into a frenzy, so be careful! You can use a can of insecticide if you really want, but this is probably going to be the safer option if you’re hanging out on your porch with other people.
For colonies that burrow underground, fill the entrance with a silica aerogel dust. [11] X Research source Don’t get closer than you have to. Read the label on the can to see how far back you can stay when spraying the insecticide.
You can even use an eco-friendly product that contains peppermint oil. [13] X Expert Source Chris ParkerFounder, Parker Eco Pest Control Expert Interview. 15 January 2021.
This isn’t a permanent solution, but if you’re only concerned about keeping wasps away every now and then, this might work for you!
