Bee Gone Ye Wasps!

Just because I respect animals doesn't mean I like all species. This is particularly true for a variety of insects. Last year, we had some uninvited guests set up camp on our third-floor deck: paper wasps; supposedly harmless insects, but then why do they have stingers attached to their rumps?

Now, our deck is quite tiny, and with two cats and two humans, I told the little buggers, "There ain't room enough for the both of us." Of course, they didn't listen to me and just went on their merry way building a very impressive hideaway that looked like corrugated cardboard.

Looking for an alternative scare tactic, I did about two minutes of research on the internet and found a simple, cheap, humane way to get rid of wasps. The only materials required were a brown paper bag, crumpled up paper, and string. We already had these items in the apartment, so I figured, why not give it a try?

Apparently, wasps are very territorial, so when they see another nest (especially if it's bigger than theirs) they will abandon their efforts and build their home somewhere else. The online instructions told me to create a fake nest by stuffing the brown paper bag with crumpled up paper, and hanging it near the wasps nest with string. The bugs will eventually get the hint, and then you can knock down their nest and gloat at your deceptive powers.



I was skeptical (and actually still am) but it was either coincidental, or this method worked for me. When the paper wasps came back this summer, I did the same thing, and lo and behold, they buzzed off!