Wasp alarm when eating: How to enjoy meals without stings!

Wasp alarm when eating: How to enjoy meals without stings!

Summer is not only a time for barbecues and picnics, but also brings with it the annual wasp fever. Interestingly, the situation is somewhat different this year. In Baden-Württemberg are loud zvw.de fewer wasps on the go. Stefan Kress from the Nature Conservation Association (Nabu) confirms that he doesn't see any more of it than in previous years, perhaps even less. However, there are tens of thousands of these little flying guests out there, active and satisfying their curiosity, especially when it comes to our treats.

What actually drives wasps? These small omnivores can be seen especially during barbecues and when feasting outdoors. Despite the lower number of wasps, many households are wondering how they can deal with uninvited guests. Dealing with them carefully can help you enjoy relaxing outdoor meals without the wasps becoming a nuisance. Here are some useful tips that Umweltbundesamt.de recommends to make being together more pleasant.

Tips for relaxed meals

To keep wasps away, it is advisable to keep outdoor food and drinks well covered. You should also keep an eye on fallen fruit and other sweet delicacies that are nearby, as the little animals can hide there too.

• Einzelne Wespen können mit ruhigen Bewegungen gefangen und transportiert werden, etwa mit einem Glas oder einem Becher.
• Fliegengitter an Fenstern und Türen helfen, das Eindringen der Insekten in die Wohnung zu verhindern.
• Allergiker sollten besondere Vorsicht walten lassen, da ein Wespenstich schmerzhaft und im Extremfall lebensbedrohlich sein kann.

The wasps themselves are quite useful animals because they eat many insects. Some species are even on the red list and are subject to special protection regulations, like this waspenwehr.de describes. There are impressive facts about their life cycle: The queens who establish their nests in spring lay eggs, which hatch into workers who take care of nest building and brood care. In summer, a colony can contain several thousand individuals.

Behavior and prevention

Wasps are often aggressive when they feel threatened, especially near their nest. To avoid incidents, be aware that these insects are particularly hungry in late summer and fall and look for food near people. Wasps prefer sweet foods, which particularly attracts them to barbecues and sweet desserts.

The behavior of wasps is generally peaceful as long as you don't get too close to them. When the weather is good and outdoors, most of us enjoy our meals. However, with a few precautions and a steady hand, we can fully enjoy our time outdoors without wasps becoming too prominent.

Careful handling of the little guests and good preparation are the key to relaxed meals in the heart of summer. This means we can continue to celebrate the joy of being together outdoors without having to constantly be on guard.