AS the bank holiday continues, Brits are set to get one final glimpse of summer weather before autumn begins.
However, while the summer is steadily drawing to a close, there are still wasps finding their way into our kitchens.
There are numerous ways to keep wasps out of your home[/caption]
While they have a nasty sting, they also pose a risk of contaminating uncovered food; so it’s vital to know how to keep them away from your kitchen this summer.
With temperatures reaching over 20 degrees across many parts of the UK, cleaning expert Nancy Emery at Tap Warehouse has given her recommendations on how to best keep your kitchen clean and deter flying insects – for as little as 28p.
Here are her top six tips to deter wasps this summer…
1. KEEP FOOD COVERED
It’s well known that wasps are attracted to sugar.
Cover fruit bowls, store cakes and pastries in airtight containers, and keep bins sealed.
It’s also advised to rinse sticky jars and bottles before recycling.
2. USE DETERGENTS
By far the cheapest solution – place a sliced lemon (averaging 28p from Asda) or bowls of vinegar near open windows and doors.
The strong smell is unpleasant for wasps, as it becomes disorienting to them, deterring them from entry points.
3. KEEP SMELLS AWAY
If you’re cooking with strong-smelling ingredients, keep windows closed until you’ve cleaned up.
Wiping down counters immediately can prevent the scent from attracting insects.
4. LIMIT WATER ACCESS
In hot weather, wasps are dehydrated and will seek out shade and water.
Wipe up any spills, and don’t leave pet bowls or damp cloths near open windows.
By far the cheapest solution is to place a sliced lemon (averaging 28p from Asda) near open windows and doors[/caption]
5. KEEP PLANTS AWAY
Wasps are drawn to plants, so trimming hedges regularly and relocating potted plants away from kitchen doors and windows can help stop them from flying inside.
6. ADD AN INSECT SCREEN
To allow air flow throughout your kitchen, install fine mesh screens on frequently opened windows and doors.
While a slightly more costly option, this effective option allows airflow but blocks wasps.
Nancy Emery, cleaning expert at Tap Warehouse, said: “A messy kitchen in summer is unfortunately going to be a magnet for pesky bugs like wasps and flies.
“Wasps in particular can carry bacteria and other pathogens from various sources, like garbage, animal waste, and carcasses, which they can then transfer to your food.
“Cleaning regularly is the best way to keep on top of your kitchen hygiene and limit the spread of bacteria and bad smells – and ward off any bugs.
“Try to ensure that every spill or splatter is cleaned straight away, and regularly clean the lid of your bins to ensure no unseen bacteria is left behind.”
Common garden pests
Common pests in the garden don’t need to be a cause for alarm. If you can identify them, you can work on getting rid of them and preventing them from returning.
Aphids (Greenfly, Blackfly)
Aphids are extremely common and can impact plant growth. They have tiny soft pear-shaped bodies, and are usually green or black. You may spot them clustered on the stem of soft shoots – look under leaves in particular – or may find a sticky substance on your plants that gives away aphids have been there sucking at the sap.
Whitefly
These small white-winged insects are related to aphids, at just 1 or 2 mm in length, and look very much like white moths as adults. They can be found on the underside of leaves, preferring younger, fresher leaves. They fly in clusters when you disturb them. Their lifecycle is only three weeks long, which means an infestation can occur very rapidly.
Slugs
An unmissable, squashy-looking body plus small sensory tentacles on its head. Slugs move along on one muscular foot. They range in scale from surprisingly small to terrifyingly large; limax cinereoniger species can grow comfortably beyond 20 cm in length.
Cabbage Moth Caterpillar
Cabbage moth caterpillars happily make their way into the heart of the vegetables, The caterpillars are distinguished in shades of yellow or browny green with no hair.
Mealy Bug
Mealybugs are tiny oval-shaped insects that have a white, powdery wax coating. There are several different species, many of which have what looks like legs coming from their sides and back end. In their earliest stage of life, it’s entirely possible to mistake them for fungus and not recognise them as insects at all.