How can I enjoy the outdoors (picnics, hiking, etc.) without being pestered by YELLOWJACKETS and WASPS?

I want to study outside and have picnics, but when the wasps and hornets come around, it is very unnerving and I can't really relax. People tell me to just hold still and wait for them to go away, but I'm always afraid they'll fly behind me and I'll lean back, or they'll get in my food and I'll eat them, or ...... It's so irritating! BTW, honey bees and bumble bees are no problem.

They generally donâ? T approach humans intentionally. Itâ?

S mainly the yellow jackets that cause the problem. Are there any other creative solutions I havenâ? T thought of?

Asked by Mister_Moderate 42 months ago Similar questions: enjoy outdoors picnics hiking pestered YELLOWJACKETS WASPS Science > Animals.

Similar questions: enjoy outdoors picnics hiking pestered YELLOWJACKETS WASPS.

Unfortunately, there are no magic answers... To win the battle against wasps/yellowjackets, it is important to "know thy enemy". Understand where they live and what they eat. I can assure you, they may be curious, but they have no underlying interest in you.

If you are in the habit of messily eating PB&J sandwiches with lots of jam all over your face, don't be surprised if you hear some nearby buzzing. If you eat breakfast outside with open glasses of fruit juices or fragrant fresh fruit, you will be inviting them over to join you. The same applies to eating apples with the juice dripping down your chin.

If you are in the wilderness, you can't control where they choose to live. If you are in your backyard, you can choose who lives on your property. You can hire an exterminator to try to eliminate nests.

Unfortunately, they may inhabit nests in your neighbor's yard. I have found that it is more effective to be smart about what you eat outside when you are within range of wasps and yellowjackets. In my yard, we used to have cutter bees which live in the ground for about a couple weeks in the spring.

After that they die or migrate to Canada for all I know... :) In the late summer, we have cicada killer wasps. Now these dudes are not to be messed with...or technically, the dudettes are not to be messed with. They are the size of small cigars...flying around your property.

They burrow into the ground, presumably to find and eat cicadas. If you approach their active burrow/hole in the ground, you may get buzzed by a couple flying defensive cover overhead. If you are out mowing the lawn, you may need to pay attention to where these holes are or you may be running into the house to duck for cover.

These guys are over 2" long and about 0.75" in diameter! Knowing that they have no interest in me doesn't really appease my fear when they are angry at me for accidentally approaching their nest... Cicada killer wasp...males cannot sting...but, when I am out there getting buzzed, I will confess I rarely stop to notice the gender of this scary looking insect. I don't think sprays are an answer when you are out during the day or you will fumigate yourself.

Find out where they live; then wait until evening when the temperature drops and they return "home". Then spray wasp-strength insecticide into the nests. Sources: extension.umn.edu/distribution/horticult... .

1 I have gotten emails saying that if you put a BOUNCE dryer sheet in your pocket, it will keep them away. I've never tried it myself, so I can't guarantee it will work. Good luck.

I have gotten emails saying that if you put a BOUNCE dryer sheet in your pocket, it will keep them away. I've never tried it myself, so I can't guarantee it will work. Good luck.

2 I've heard about that too, although it was suggested for mozzies. It doesn't work though.

I've heard about that too, although it was suggested for mozzies. It doesn't work though.

Mister_Moderate replied to post #1: 3 Interesting thought. If, indeed, it doesn't work, I wonder if there's an element of truth to it. Maybe there is something in dryer sheets that wasps (or mozzies) don't like, but it just needs to be stronger or worn in a different way.

You never know....

Interesting thought. If, indeed, it doesn't work, I wonder if there's an element of truth to it. Maybe there is something in dryer sheets that wasps (or mozzies) don't like, but it just needs to be stronger or worn in a different way.

You never know....

4 If I see a guy trying to study in the outdoors wearing a handsewn quilt of Bounce dryer sheets, I'll know it is you... :)If you really want to test it out, put a shirt into the dryer with a double dose of Bounce for a few minutes. Then put it on and sit amongst the yellowjackets...on second thought, just hang it up outside...what if they like the scent? .

If I see a guy trying to study in the outdoors wearing a handsewn quilt of Bounce dryer sheets, I'll know it is you... :)If you really want to test it out, put a shirt into the dryer with a double dose of Bounce for a few minutes. Then put it on and sit amongst the yellowjackets...on second thought, just hang it up outside...what if they like the scent?

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.