Wasps

Here at my home it is

Invasion of the Wasps

time.

While, this year, people who are

growing Swan Plants in order

to encourage Monarch butterflies,

are noticing how the caterpillars

are being killed by wasps,

here I have been troubled by swarms of wasps

drinking from the dish of sugar

water that I put out for tuis.

Some of the

wasps did drown but many were

able to land on the water, drink,

and fly away.

The key has been to put some

dishwasher detergent in

the water. This lowers the

surface tension and as a result

the wasps land and quickly drown.

I have killed about 100 since this time

yesterday.

One problem is that the tuis

don't like the taste of the detergent

but another day or two

and this wasp community

might be severely decimated,

hopefully exterminated.

They certainly appear to

be reduced in number.

There are ways to make

wasp traps including simple

ones made from large plastic drink bottles.

The internet has many suggestions.