I am petrified of wasps. Always have been. Ever since a very unfortunate incident that involved a game of hide and seek and a very active nest when I was 11 years old. So, it’s safe to say that I do what we all do when one flies into my home, I panic.
However, I’ve now learned that our instinctual reactions to these stinging pests, is exactly the opposite of what we should do. We panic, wave our arms, start swatting at it or fling every window and door open in the hope it’ll magically find its way out.
Shockingly, this is not the answer. Here’s the one mistake we’re all making, and how to actually get the wasp out.
The one mistake not to make: do not squish
In short the biggest mistake you can make when trying to exile a rogue wasp, do not squish. The biggest mistake people make is trying to swat, squash or chase a wasp as soon as it flies indoors. Sudden movements can make a wasp feel threatened, causing it to become more defensive and unpredictable. In many cases, the fastest way to get it out is actually to remain calm and give it a clear route back outside.
The swatting motion causes a wasp to release alarm signals which makes it more likely you’ll end up with a sting. But despite their fearsome reputation, wasps don’t usually fly into homes looking for a fight. More often than not, they’ve simply wandered inside while searching for food, water or light, and are just as keen to find their way back out again.
The problem starts when they feel trapped. If a wasp can’t easily locate an exit, or suddenly finds itself being chased around the room with a tea towel or newspaper, it can interpret those fast movements as a threat. That’s when it’s more likely to become defensive, making its flight more erratic and increasing the chance of a sting. Ironically, the instinct to swat or wave it away often keeps the wasp airborne for longer, rather than encouraging it to leave.
What to read next
And, even if you did actually manage to squash it sting free, when squished, the body releases chemical alarm pheromones that attract and anger other nearby wasps. Kill one, and two more may appear in its place.
What to do when a wasp flies into your house
1. Turn off the lights
Wasps naturally navigate using daylight, so reducing competing light sources helps encourage them towards an exit. Switch off all internal lights and lamps, essentially, you’ll want to make your home as dark and uninviting as possible.
2. Open one window or external door
Rather than opening every window in the house in hopes it will wind up near one of them, create one obvious escape route and focus its attention there. A single bright opening is much easier for the wasp to identify.
3. Close internal doors
Keeping the wasp contained in one room prevents it from wandering through the house and makes it much easier to guide outside.
4. Step back and be patient
Once you’ve created a clear exit, leave the wasp alone for a few minutes. In many cases, it’ll find the open window by itself once it stops feeling under threat.
5. Remove tempting food and drink
If you’ve got a glass of squash, fruit, jam, or pet food sitting out, move it out of the room. Sweet smells can encourage a wasp to linger rather than continue searching for a way outside.
6. Give it space
It sounds counterintuitive, but stepping back can actually help. Standing directly beneath a wasp or constantly watching it can make you more likely to react suddenly. Once you’ve created an exit, leave the room for a few minutes if it’s safe to do so.
