If you have wasps near where you live, they may choose your home for their habitat. And you may want to try everything you can to get rid of them. Decoy wasp nests are a popular option, but they may not be right for you.
Decoy wasp nests don’t work to repel wasps. Wasps don’t look at commercial decoy nests or paper bags as deterrents. Instead, they may think the materials are perfect for building their own nest. Getting rid of real wasp nests is a good way to deter wasps.
Whether you saw your first wasp or a full wasp nest, you may consider how you can get rid of it. Keep reading to learn more about why decoy wasp nests aren’t the best choice.
Wasp Nest Appearance
When considering if decoy wasp nests can work, you should think about what real wasp nests look like. The nests can look like paper mache, so it can seem like using paper, or similar material could repel wasps.
That logic states that if a wasp sees another nest, it won’t set one up. However, wasps don’t perceive paper or paper bags as an existing wasp nest. The wasp can tell if there’s an existing wasp nest or not.
Even using a commercial decoy wasp nest won’t work. A wasp will be able to tell that it isn’t a real wasp nest. Wasps navigate primarily through sense rather than vision so visual cues are simply not sufficient. (source)
How Wasps Make Nests
Next, you should know how wasps make nests. While bees use wax to create their nests, wasps chew up materials like wood or paper to create their nests. The wasp will chew up the material and spit it out to then mold the materials to create a habitat.
Knowing how wasps make nests is important because it points out a critical flaw with some decoy nests. Depending on the materials, decoy nests could only serve to help wasps build a nest.
If your decoy uses paper or wood, the wasp will see that as the perfect starting point. They won’t have to search for the right materials to create a nest. So it will only attract wasps.
Should You Get Rid of a Wasp Nest?
Fortunately, you can get rid of a wasp nest if it bugs you. This is a good option if the wasp nest is in the way or is near a door or window. You can get rid of the nest to keep wasps from getting near or in your home.
However, you may not want to get rid of wasp nests that aren’t in the way. Wasps can be a good source of pest control because they can eat flies and other pests. Then, you won’t have to worry about getting rid of them.
Still, if you’re allergic to wasps, you may want to remove the wasp nest no matter where it is. That way, you can feel safer when at home.
Final Thoughts
Decoy wasps sound like a good idea, but they aren’t effective. At best, they’ll do nothing, and at worst, they’ll give wasps the materials they need to craft a nest. Luckily, wasps can help control pests as long as the nest is out of the way.