- 1). Refrain from leaving fruits outside, especially raspberries or strawberries. European wasps are attracted to fruit; if they infest a farm or yard growing these types of fruits, they make it difficult, if not impossible, to pick the fruit. If fruit must be outside, such as for a party, cover it to keep from attracting the European wasps.
- 2). Feed dogs inside. European wasps are attracted to dog food, and they will use any pet food left outside as a food source.
- 3). Spray smaller European wasp nests with a commercial wasp and hornet insecticide to kill wasps before the nest grows too large. It is best to do this at nighttime, when the European wasps are in the nest and flying is at a minimum. In the morning, remove the nest and crush it to kill any larvae left inside, and spray the area with water from a hose. European wasps can be attracted to the scents of other nests; water removes any lingering scents.
- 4). Cover composting bins and garbage cans tightly, if European wasps are detected. They are attracted to decaying food scraps, particularly fruit.
- 5). Avoid disturbing a European wasp nest or showing aggressive behavior (such as attacking the nest or individual wasps), if you have no intention of removing it, or it is quite large. The wasps are aggressive when aggravated, and the colony will defend a nest by swarming. European wasps can sting multiple times; stings are extremely painful, and numerous stings can be dangerous to the recipient.
- 6). Destroy large nests in cooler months, if possible. In Australia, where the European wasps have become a severe nuisance, destroying the nest in winter is recommended since a nest can contain several thousand European wasps. In winter most of the colony dies, and the queen bee hibernates in sheltered spaces around the yard. In spring, the queen reemerges, starts laying eggs, and a new colony is formed.
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