A whole range of home remedies are propagated against wasps that rely on a deterrent odor effect. This also includes garlic. However, whether the intense smell is actually an effective repellant depends on the situation.
Does garlic help against wasps?
Garlic can have some effect against wasps by using it in resting places, as a prevention against wasp nest building or against wasp stings. However, its smell is no guarantee of complete wasp repellence, especially when eating outside.
Famous Garlic Smell
The smell of garlic is, in a sense, a hot potato. It has been used by us humans for thousands of years and either loved or hated. In many parts of the world, garlic is a firmly established part of traditional culinary culture, especially in the Mediterranean region.
The typical hot and spicy aroma of the tubers comes from sulfur-containing ingredients, which are only released when cells are injured, i.e. when crushed or cut. Some people find the aroma very unpleasant - and wasps don't seem to be fans of garlic either. Finally, the direction of smell is completely outside of what they fly to for food: namely, primarily sugary and protein-containing things.
How to use garlic against wasps?
It is certain that wasps do not like the smell of garlic. Whether he can effectively keep them away is another matter. In general, wasp home remedies that are intended to act as odor barriers should be treated with he althy skepticism. Because a wasp worker who has to support a state with around 7,000 animals and herself with the strenuous procurement of food cannot afford to spurn a table full of cakes, open jars of jam and grilled meat just because of a slightly annoying smell.
Spreading sliced garlic on the dinner table doesn't do anything. Where you can use it effectively, however, is in any problematic wasp situations that have nothing to do with your outdoor meals. For example:
- In resting places in the garden
- As a prevention against wasp nest building
- Against wasp stings
Whether you want to put garlic out in a gazebo or next to the garden bench to prevent wasps from disturbing visitors is, of course, a matter of taste in the truest sense of the word. The smell will keep wasps away to some extent, as long as there are no sweet smells of flowers or perfume in the air. However, you may also be spoiled for peaceful relaxation.
Garlic can be useful to prevent wasps from building nests in certain places - for example in roller shutter boxes or in hollow tree trunks.
The juice from garlic cloves also helps against wasp stings to a certain extent. The antibacterial properties of the ingredients counteract inflammation.
