There
are more than 75,000 kinds of wasps in the world. Nearly all of them are not
only harmless, but also highly beneficial because they prey on other insects,
including disease-carrying mosquitoes and almost every crop-destroying garden
pest you can name. But, zowie! Their
stings really pack a punch. So place containers filled with any of this trio of
repelling plants wherever you want to keep wasps away:
Citronella. This is most potent when
you crush the leaves and rub them onto your skin (or use citronella oil,
available in health-food stores). But dense groupings of the real deal also
discourage wasp visits.
Mint. Both the oil and live
plants repel wasps. If you plant it in your garden (rather than in a
container), you’ll need to clip it back frequently — otherwise, it’ll take over
your whole yard before you know it!
Wormwood. This silvery-gray perennial
is highly drought resistant. On the downside, the same aromatic chemicals that
repel wasps (and scads of other insects) make wormwood poisonous to people and
animals — so don’t plant it if you have small children or pets on the scene.
If
you find yourself at the wrong end of a wasp’s stinger, here are two easy ways
to control inflammation and ease the pain:
1. Dissolve two effervescent
antacid tablets in a glass of water. Then moisten a soft cloth with the
solution, and hold it on the bite for 20 minutes.
2. Wet the site, and rub an
uncoated aspirin tablet over it.
Whichever
remedy you choose, if the culprit was a bee instead of a wasp, remove the stinger
before you proceed.
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