Infiltration of pests on the property is a common problem faced by homeowners. It’s annoying to encounter pests on the property no matter what the reason is, and wasps are one such creature whose tendency is to bite when they get an indication of danger. Wasps enter the outdoor space from multiple sources and the indoor area through holes in the exterior area, gaps in doors, or any small space that may go unnoticed by you. These little creatures won’t allow you to enjoy the outdoor environment peacefully because the fear of their bite keeps haunting you, especially when kids and pets are around. The primary concern is how to address the problem. In this article, we focus primarily on homemade remedies using boric acid to kill wasps.
Can You Use Boric Acid to Kill Wasps?
You can undoubtedly use boric acid to kill wasps as it is a tried and tested solution used over the past many years. It’s a DIY solution to kill these creatures. Another advantage of using boric acid is that it also helps control the infiltration of other pests. It’s like a dual-benefit approach. All you have to do is prepare a delicious bait for wasps and attract them toward it. Once they fall into the trap, your work is done, which we discuss later in the article.
Tips to Consider When Using a Boric Acid Mixture to Kill Wasps
There are a few things you should consider for effectively controlling wasps. Let’s have a look:
- Always wear protective gear when making the boric acid mixture, as it may damage your hands.
- Keep the bait away from the reach of kids and pets to ensure they don’t ingest it.
Method to Prepare Boric Acid Bait to Kill Wasps
Material Required
- Container to hold bait (recycle empty beverage cans or plastic bottles)
- Sugar water or fruit juice
- A straw or a stick from a plant or tree for easy climbing of wasps in and out
- Boric acid powder (it is readily available in hardware shops or a drugstore)
Steps to Prepare the Bait
The method to prepare boric acid bait is simple and easy. All you have to do is prepare a mix using two tablespoons of boric acid and one cup of sugar water or fruit juice. Then, pour this solution in a small quantity into the containers to ensure wasps don’t drown but merely drink the mixture and come out safely. Don’t forget to insert a straw or a small stick to allow wasps to go in and come out of the container. The final step is the proper placement of these containers. Put the containers at places where you have noticed wasps and see the result.
How Does Boric Acid Bait Kill Wasps?
The key reason boric acid works on wasps is that they love sugary substances, which makes the task of attracting them to the mixture easier. Once wasps get into the container containing the boric acid mixture, in search of juice, they come in contact with boric acid, which they carry to their nests and spread to fellow wasps. This leads to the destruction of their entire colony. We discuss the steps to prepare the boric acid bait.
Advantages of Using Boric Acid to Kill Wasp
There are multiple advantages of using boric acid to eliminate wasps. Here is the list:
- It can effectively destroy the entire colony without even locating the colony. The wasps when ingest bait mixed with boric acid, carry it to their colony where queens ingest it and die.
- When compared to other chemicals, boric acid is a cost effective option to kill wasps and it can cover large areas.
- Boric acid doesn't dissipate quickly, rather it remains effective for longer.
- It is not harmful for pets and humans. However, it is poisonous to insects.
Disadvantages of Using Boric Acid to Kill Wasp
- Wasps have a longer leg, so their body is elevated when they walk. As a result, they fail to ingest the bait.
- It is a time consuming process because wasps carry bait to their nests and then other fellow wasps consume it and die.
- If it is used in large quantities, it can be hazardous for the environment. This is because when it is washed into the lean, it can make the soil sterile.
Dos and Don'ts of Using Boric Acid for Pest Control
Merely using boric acid in a haphazard way won’t be effective, rather proper and planned use will help control pests. Here are some of the do’s and dont’s for better results.
Dos
Apply boric acid at the right spot- Avoid using boric acid randomly as it won’t fix the pest problem from the roots. Identify their hiding spot and then target those areas.
Don’ts
Avoid overuse- Use boric acid in a limited quantity because excessive use can lead to respiratory problems, especially in individuals who are sensitive and can trigger allergic reactions.
Prevent contamination- Make sure the boric acid dust doesn't contaminate food, water or any other things which comes in direct contact.
Why Boric Acid May Not Work Against Digger Wasps
Boric acid doesn’t work against diggers because their body is elevated on long legs, so they won't ingest the powder when crawling. Here are other reasons.
- Dietary habits of adult diggers are different. They feed on flower nectar, so they don’t get attracted to any sugar solution or bait mixed with poison.
- Diggers, even if they drink mixture, won’t carry it to their colony to feed them because they feed on insects.
- Diggers don’t drink water, so they don’t get attracted to any water sourced containing chemicals.
How to Make a Paper Nest to Keep Wasps Away?
This is another option to keep wasps away from your property. The process to make the paper nest is quite simple and hassle-free. Take one piece of newspaper, cut it into four pieces, make a ball out of one piece of paper by rolling it between your palms, put this paper ball into another piece of newspaper, and roll it over again between your palms to make a double layered ball and make a tail like the end of the ball. Use masking tape and wrap it around in the middle of the paper wasp nest to ensure it looks similar to the washing net. Place it around the area where you notice wasps. On seeing these paper wasp nests, wasps start to leave the place and don’t try to come back, thinking that other groups of wasps have already made their nests.
