Why are wasps attracted to me?

If you find that you get stung by wasps more than the average person, you may be wondering why these insects seem particularly attracted to you. Wasps tend to sting for one of two main reasons: they feel threatened or they’re interested in your food. Understanding wasp behavior and what triggers them can help you avoid getting stung.

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Wasps are naturally defensive

Wasps are defensive by nature and are more likely to sting when they feel threatened. Here are some reasons why you may appear threatening to wasps:

You swat at them or make sudden movements when they come near.
You unknowingly get too close to their nest.
You wear strong perfumes, scented lotions or other fragrances that may irritate them.

You accidentally disturb their nests while gardening or doing outdoor activities.

Wasps, like bees, will sting when aggravated to protect themselves and their colony. Even innocent actions like mowing the lawn or pruning trees can disrupt a nest and provoke an attack. If a wasp feels threatened by your presence, it will sting in self-defense.

Your food attracts wasps

Wasps are also attracted to human food and drinks, especially those that are sweet. Here’s why you may notice more wasps around your food than other people’s:

You eat outdoors more often.
You eat sugary foods and drinks.
You leave food unattended.

You have open garbage cans.
You eat foods that appeal to wasps, like ripe fruit.

If you frequently dine al fresco or have an outdoor gathering, the food will lure wasps to your space.Leaving drinks and dishes exposed gives wasps access to the good stuff. Even garbage cans containing food remains or sugary soda cans can attract wasps. If you want to avoid stings, try eating indoors or covering up food between bites.

You live near their habitat

Your location and environment can also make you more prone to wasp encounters. Here are some reasons your home surroundings may attract wasps:

You have a garden with flowering plants that provide nectar.
There are nests located on your property.

You have a backyard that gets more sun exposure.
You live near fields, orchards or parks that provide food sources.
Your neighborhood has litter, garbage and uncovered trash cans.

If you live next to an open field or garden with ample flowers, wasps will frequent your space more. Well-lit areas surrounded by natural food sources also appeal to wasps. Keeping things tidy, sealing food trash, and removing nests can make your property less attractive to wasps.

You wear bright colors and floral patterns

Believe it or not, your clothing choices can also influence wasp activity around you. Here’s why wasps may target you based on what you wear:

You often wear bright colors like yellow, orange and red.

You wear clothes featuring floral prints and patterns.
You wear perfume, scented lotion or hair products.

Wasps are especially drawn to the colors yellow and black. Floral patterns also mimic the flowers they feed on. Strong fragrances from beauty products can further pique their interest. Wearing muted solid colors and avoiding heavily scented items can make you less conspicuous to wasps.

You are eating or drinking outdoors

Outdoor eating and drinking is a leading cause of wasp stings. Here’s why dining al fresco puts you at higher risk:

Food and drinks are left uncovered and accessible.
Picnic areas are near trash cans and litter.

You eat sweets like sodas, juices and desserts.
You eat ripe fruits with exposed pulp and juice.
Food remains are left out instead of being sealed or discarded.

Table scraps and uncovered food entice wasps looking for an easy meal. They are especially drawn to sugar-filled drinks and juices. Overripe fruit with flesh exposed releases sugary juices that attract wasps as well. Keeping food covered when not eating and promptly cleaning up can deter wasps from invading your outdoor dining.

You are drinking beer, wine or cider

If stinging insects seem to target your beverages, alcohol could be the reason. Here’s why wasps zone in on adult drinks:

Fermented drinks contain residual sugars.

Darker drinks like red wine mimic rotting fruit colors.
Carbonation mimics the movement of threatened insects.
Outdoor drinking increases exposure to wasps.

The sugars and fruit-like scents of wine, cider and beer attract wasps looking for nectar. The bubbles and motion of carbonated drinks also provoke defensive reactions. Enjoying alcoholic beverages indoors in covered containers cuts down on wasp interest.

You have accessible garbage cans

Garbage cans provide food sources that appeal to wasps. Here’s how improper garbage disposal can attract wasps:

Cans contain unfinished fruit, juices and soda.

Food wrappers and remainder attract wasps.
Cans are left open instead of sealed tightly.
Outdoor garbage cans are easily accessible.

Accessible trash receptacles containing food remnants create temptation for wasps scavenging for meals. Cans left open also allow wasps to fly in and feast. Keeping outdoor garbage cans sealed tight and emptying them frequently stops wasps from visiting.

There are wasp nests on your property

Having active nests in and around your home is a guarantee wasps will frequent your space. Common nesting spots include:

Under roof overhangs and eaves.

Inside attics, crawl spaces and garage rafters.
Under decks, patio covers and outdoor furniture.
In bushes, trees and landscaping features.

Inside old rodent burrows and hollow logs.

Nests built in shrubs, trees or architectural gaps allow wasps to live right on your property. Multiple nests mean even larger wasp populations that will aggressively protect their colonies. Locating and safely removing nests is key to reducing wasps on your land.

Your yard contains flowering plants, gardens and orchards

Gardens and yards full of flowering plants provide prime food sources for wasps. Here’s why an abundance of blossoms and fruit trees attracts them:

Flowers provide protein-rich nectar and pollen.
Orchards and berries offer ripe, sugar-filled fruit.
Open compost piles contain decaying plant matter.

Vegetable gardens provide nutrients wasps crave.

Any property with diverse plant life and food growth will appeal to foraging wasps. They gather pollen and nectar from flowers and feed on ripe, decaying fruits and vegetables. Avoiding prolific flowering landscapes and sealing compost piles limits wasp meals.

You have abundant ground cover and landscape litter

An overgrown landscape full of debris also invites wasps by providing nesting areas and food sources:

Weedy areas with ground cover let wasps hide nests.
Piles of fallen branches and limbs provide nesting cavities.
Old logs, firewood piles and rodent burrows offer nest spots.

Decaying plant debris supplies nutrition.

Cleaning up landscape clutter reduces wasp nesting spots. Keeping your yard tidy by raking debris, mowing weeds and pruning overgrown areas removes attractive nesting environments for wasps. Store firewood and lumber piles out of reach of foraging wasps as well.

You live near bee farms, orchards and fields

Home surroundings near agricultural areas will also see more wasp activity due to ample food supply. Nearby locations that increase wasps include:

Orchards and berry farms
Vineyards and other fruit crops
Vegetable farms

Bee farms
Flower fields
Parks with oak trees and maple syrup operations

Rural environments provide sustenance for wasps in the form of ripening produce, orchard flowers and bee hive honey. If you live by farm crops or wooded parks, the abundant food sources will feed large wasp populations that also come onto your property.

You drink from open soda cans and juice boxes

Open beverage containers allow wasps to easily access sugary contents. Reasons why uncovered drinks attract wasps include:

Sugary soda and juice provide quick energy.

Bright colors of cans and juice boxes attract wasps.
Fruit-flavored drinks contain fruity scents.
Carbonation from sodas mimics insect movement.

Open containers allow direct access to contents.

The combination of fruit flavors, bright packaging and easy availability entices wasps to land on open cans and juice pouches. Keeping your drinks sealed when not sipping uses a physical barrier to keep wasps away from the sugary contents inside.

You leave sugary foods and drinks unattended outdoors

Allowing finished sweet treats and beverages to remain outdoors provides tasty temptations that appeal to wasps. Here’s why uncovered sugary items attract wasps:

Sugary sodas, juices and smoothies contain glucose and fructose.
Desserts and baked goods are coated in frosting, honey or fruit.
Spilled sweet beverages attract wasps to the area.

Accessible food and glasses allow direct wasp contact.

Any uncovered food or drink containing sugar, frosting or fruit will attract hungry wasps. The more time sweet items are left accessible, the more wasps will flock to the area. Quickly cleaning children’s spilled juice and half-eaten sweet treats removes tempting sugar sources for wasps.

You accidentally disturb wasp nests

Disturbing a wasp nest will instantly enrage the insects and provoke stinging. Here are ways you may unintentionally disrupt nests:

Pruning trees and shrubs harboring hidden nests.
Mowing over ground nests.
Trimming branches and vines with nests.

Sitting on or leaning against nests.
Picking up old logs, rocks and debris containing nests.

Wasps aggressively defend their nests by stinging any perceived threat in the vicinity. Carefully inspecting areas before clearing debris or pruning prevents accidentally uncovering hidden nesting spots. Watch for signs like wasp traffic to identify nests.

You swat at wasps when they come near you

Swatting at wasps tells the insects you are a threat, which provokes stinging. Reasons flailing your arms draws more attacks include:

Sudden movements trigger defensive stinging.
Hitting a wasp releases alarm pheromones to call others.

Smashing one wasp doesn’t deter the rest of the colony.
Standing still allows wasps to assess you are not a threat.

Resist the urge to flail your arms or take a swipe at wasps when they buzz by. Slowly moving away allows wasps to realize you are not a danger to them. Take cover indoors if wasps linger nearby to avoid defensive stinging.

Conclusion

Wasps can make outdoor living, dining and activities unpleasant when they crash your space. Understanding what attracts them allows you to take steps discouraging them from singling you out. Avoiding bright colors, floral prints, and fragrances makes you less conspicuous. Staying still, quickly cleaning food remains, and sealing drinks and trash also makes your space less enticing. Ultimately, removing nearby nests and food sources takes away wasp motivation for visiting areas where they repeatedly sting you. With some diligence, you can enjoy the outdoors again free of unwanted wasp encounters.