Wasps are one of the most numerous household pests. You may be horrified after seeing wasps buzzing or fanning around you. Although there are multiple ways to kill and get rid of wasps, have you ever heard about eucalyptus? Does eucalyptus kill wasps?
Yes, eucalyptus is a natural insect repellent, and you can use it to kill wasps. Mainly, eucalyptus oil is very effective for killing or deterring wasps. As wasps are very sensitive to strong fragrances, you can pour eucalyptus oil directly on the suspected areas of wasp infestation.
Do you want to use eucalyptus to kill wasps but don’t know how? Read the information below to use eucalyptus to deter wasps effectively.
Does Eucalyptus Kill Wasps?
Eucalyptus is an indigenous tree to Australia and is known for its distinctive, menthol-like fragrance. It results from the presence of eucalyptol, a substance that is present in the tree’s leaves and bark. According to the Journal of Trends in Food Science & Technology, eucalyptol is the principal constituent of eucalyptus.
So, when you try to rub the eucalyptus leaf, you may notice a burst of menthol. Due to the potent smell of menthol, it’s a powerful deterrent for wasps. You can grow these trees in your yard or use their cut branches to repel wasps.
Eucalyptus plants can grow up to 3-40ft in a year; however, you can trim them to reduce their size. Therefore, you should choose a plant that grows up to at least 2 ft.
Moreover, you can also use eucalyptus oil to ward off wasps.
How Can You Use Eucalyptus Oil to Remove Wasps?
You can use eucalyptus oil to deter wasps due to its pungent smell. Eucalyptus oil can be used in the following manners to help repel wasps:
- Make a Eucalyptus Spray
To make a eucalyptus:
- Fill the spray bottle first with ¾ amount of water.
- Put 10 to 15 drops of eucalyptus oil in it.
- Shake it vigorously to ensure the oil is evenly dispersed throughout the water.
Afterward, you can spray this mixture near places where wasps frequently gather or construct nests, such as eaves, doors, windows, or other exterior buildings.
- Use Eucalyptus Oil on Cotton Balls
Take a small amount of eucalyptus oil in a bowl. Now, make small balls of cotton. Soak these cotton balls in the eucalyptus oil. After following these steps, you can put these cotton balls where wasps are active or where you want to deter them.
- Use Eucalyptus Oil Sachets
You can make sachets by putting cotton balls soaked in eucalyptus oil inside tiny mesh bags or worn-out pieces of fabric. Now, you can hang these sachets in the garden, close to windows, or on porches where wasps are infested.
- Employ Eucalyptus Oil Diffusers
Moreover, if you have eucalyptus oil diffusers, you can apply them in outdoor areas where wasps are present, like yards, gardens, garages, and near doors and windows. You can reapply them to increase their efficacy.
- DIY Eucalyptus Oil Solution
- Take a small amount of water in a bottle.
- Add 10-15 drops of eucalyptus and peppermint oil to the water.
- Mix the solution properly and spray it along the suspected areas of the wasp’s presence.
Why Use Eucalyptus Oil to Deter Wasps?
Eucalyptus oil is very effective in deterring wasps. As wasps have a susceptible olfactory system, certain scents are repugnant. Below are some reasons for eucalyptus oil’s effectiveness against wasps:
- Strong Scent: Eucalyptus oil has a strong aroma that may sound aromatic to you, but wasps find it irritating. It can cause them to flee the area where eucalyptus oil is present.
- Non-toxic and Natural: You can get eucalyptus oil from the leaves of the eucalyptus plant, making it a natural and non-toxic way to repel wasps.
- Insecticide: Eucalyptus oil consists of chemical cineole with insect-repelling properties. Thus, it acts as a natural insecticide.
- Safe for Pets and Plants: Eucalyptus oil in appropriate quantities and concentrations would be safer for your pets and plants.
- Easy to Use: You can use eucalyptus oil in various ways, including diluted solution with water, mixed with other essential oils, and sprayed directly on the suspected areas of wasps presence.
What Are the Dangers of Wasps?
Wasps can pose several threats, some of which are listed below:
- Some people are allergic to wasp’s sting. If a wasp bites them, they can get severe allergic reactions called anaphylaxis. These allergic reactions have symptoms like difficulty breathing, swelling, itching, and a rapid drop in blood pressure.
- Wasps can sting multiple times to their target. So, if they feel threatened, they can bite you continuously.
- Moreover, the wasp’s stings not only cause an allergic reaction, they are painful for everyone.
- If you scratch the area where wasps bite you, you may get other skin infections.
- Wasps usually build their nests in commercial areas, which increases their chances of attack.
- If you disturb the nest of wasps, it may result in the attack of a whole swarm in defense.
- Some species of wasps, like yellow jackets, harm the agriculture system by damaging fruits, vegetables, and crops.
How Long Will Eucalyptus Oil Keep Wasps Away?
Eucalyptus oil has a strong scent and is very effective in deterring wasps. It is due to its high concentration of cineole, a natural insect repellent. However, depending on the concentration, application technique, and environmental circumstances, it may only sometimes be practical.
The duration of eucalyptus oil’s repellent effects can typically last from a few hours to a day, depending on elements like airflow and oil concentration. You may need to reapply it on suspected areas of wasp infestation to maintain its efficacy.
However, while eucalyptus oil can repel wasps, it may not be as effective as commercial insecticides. Moreover, you may need to be proficient in applying essential oils to ward off wasps.
What if Eucalyptus Oil Doesn’t Repel the Wasps?
There is always a chance that any remedy (even those sold in stores) will only be successful for some potential causes. Sometimes, it comes down to whether you’re going after a ground nest or a hanging one, like those constructed by paper wasps. Other times, overnight rain may have just wiped away the spray.
If eucalyptus oil fails to repel wasps, you may use it in less quantity or not apply it correctly. Moreover, different species of wasps have different sensitivities, so the effectiveness of eucalyptus oil can vary from wasp to wasp. Further, if the wasps have already installed their nests, eucalyptus oil’s fragrance isn’t enough to deter them. However, many multiple remedies are available to repel wasps, so don’t worry; use another one to eliminate wasps.
Other Insects Repel by Eucalyptus
Although eucalyptus is effective in repelling wasps, below are some more insects that you can repel using eucalyptus:
Ants
Eucalyptus oil has a strong aroma that wasps don’t like. It contains a compound cineole, which has insect-repelling solid properties. So, you can use eucalyptus oil to deter wasps. There are various ways to use eucalyptus oil to discourage ants. You can dilute eucalyptus oil with water. For this, add a few drops of its oil in a spray bottle of water, mix it well, and spray it where the ants are present.
Moreover, you can also place fresh and dried eucalyptus leaves along the pathway of ants to deter them. You can also make sachets filled with crushed dried leaves of eucalyptus, then place them on ant-prone areas. Another way to ward off ants with eucalyptus oil is to soak cotton balls and put them in the course of ants.
Bugs
Eucalyptus oil is a natural insecticide that you can use to deter bugs and prevent them from infesting your home. You can use a diluted solution of eucalyptus oil to repel bugs with eucalyptus oil. Furthermore, you can decorate your living spaces with eucalyptus-scented candles or diffusers of essential oils to create a bug-repelling atmosphere.
As bugs are most likely to infest fabrics, you can add a pinch of eucalyptus oil to your laundry while washing bedsheets, clothes, and curtains to repel bugs. Moreover, you can also grow eucalyptus plants in your yard to keep bugs away. Above all, while eucalyptus oil is an effective bug-repellent, it may not be as potent as commercial insect repellents.
Cockroaches
Eucalyptus oil is a natural remedy to repel cockroaches because of its strong scent and potential insect-repelling properties. According to the Journal of Arthropod-Borne Diseases, eucalyptus oil can kill 100% of cockroach nymphs at a 5–30% concentration. So, to deter wasps, you can sprinkle a diluted spray of eucalyptus oil in the suspected areas of roaches presence.
Moreover, you can also use eucalyptus sachets and cotton balls soaked in eucalyptus oil to repel wasps. Another way to deter cockroaches with eucalyptus oil is to add a few drops in regular cleaning solutions for countertops, floors, and other surfaces. It may help prevent cockroaches from touching those surfaces.
Bees
Although bees are not aggressive, they are unhygienic and could be the source of several diseases by transferring germs from one place to another. Removing them from your home is always challenging, but you can eliminate them by using eucalyptus or its essential oil.
Add some drops of eucalyptus oil with water, then apply this mixture where you want to repel bees. You can also use eucalyptus sachets; fill small sachets with dried eucalyptus leaves. Now, place them along your doorways and windows to ward off bees. Moreover, you can also use an eucalyptus candle as decoration in your home or an eucalyptus oil diffuser to get rid of bees.
Fleas
Eucalyptus oil is made from the seed and leaves of the eucalyptus plant. It has a strong and pungent smell, so you can use it to deter fleas. If you are dealing with flea infestation, try spraying the interior of your home with a mixture of water and a few drops of eucalyptus oil.
Put some water in a spray bottle, add a few drops of oil, and then sprinkle it on your floor, beds, and carpets. Whenever fleas pass that way, they will die. If you have a pet dog, mix some eucalyptus oil in your dog’s shampoo to prevent bug attacks. So, all the fleas will die whenever you bathe your dog with this shampoo. Moreover, reapply the eucalyptus oil or its solution when needed.
Rats
The oils from the plants are the actual draw when utilizing eucalyptus to keep rats away. Although eucalyptol is present throughout the entire tree, using the leaves or bark as a rodent deterrent is not practical or practicable. You can use either diluted eucalyptus oil or dried leaves as bait to repel rats.
First, identify where you find rats, including the kitchen, toilets, sewerage system, and garbage cans, and then spray the solution to prevent rat infestation. Above all, reapply the eucalyptus oil, especially when there is rain.
Apart from that, seal all the entry points of your home, like windows and doors, with cotton balls soaked in eucalyptus oil. So, whenever rats try to pass these areas, they’ll not dare to come again due to the pungent smell of eucalyptus.
Mites
Eucalyptus is known for its insect-repelling properties, so you can use it to deter certain mites. It contains the compound eucalyptol (cineole), which has insecticidal properties. Spray the mixture on areas where there may be mites by combining some drops of eucalyptus oil with water in a spray bottle.
Moreover, when washing bedding, you can mix a few drops of eucalyptus oil with your laundry detergent. It can kill any mites that are present on your bedsheets. Above all, if you have a mite skin infection, you can apply a mixture of eucalyptus and olive oil to affected areas for prevention.
Ticks
Because of its powerful aroma and probable insecticidal qualities, you can use eucalyptus oil as a natural tick repellant. It has a potent and distinctive scent that ticks find unpleasant.
Cineole in eucalyptus oil may disrupt ticks’ nervous system or other physiological processes, potentially discouraging them from staying in the area. Moreover, applying eucalyptus oil on the skin creates a protective layer and prevents an infection.
Thus, you can use a solution of eucalyptus oil and water to deter ticks from the areas where you suspect their presence. As ticks love to live in dogs’ furs, you can also apply a small amount of eucalyptus oil on your dog’s skin to prevent them from ticks.
Mosquitoes
Although eucalyptus doesn’t directly kill mosquitoes, its potent aroma makes it an excellent natural mosquito repellent. Eucalyptus oil helps keep mosquitoes away, whether applied to the skin or released into the air. Moreover, you can also use eucalyptus-scented candles inside your home to prevent mosquitoes.
Another way to use eucalyptus oil for mosquitoes is to mix a small amount of it in your regular body lotion or cream and then apply it on your skin as a barrier. Additionally, the natural aroma of eucalyptus leaves can keep mosquitoes away from your home or yard. So you can grow its plant in your yard to ward off mosquitoes.
Bottom Line
Wasps are the most abundant household pests around the world. Their controlling measures are challenging. However, you can use multiple natural remedies, like eucalyptus and its essential oil, to eliminate them. Eucalyptus contains a chemical cineole, giving it a strong aroma that wasps hate.
There are several ways to use eucalyptus oil against wasps, including diluted eucalyptus oil solution, soaked cotton balls, eucalyptus sachets & candles. Additionally, eucalyptus repels wasps and helps deter other insects, including ants, fleas, mites, ticks, bugs, and mosquitoes. Lastly, remember, if you have a large wasp infestation, don’t rely only on natural home remedies; consult with any professional to sort out the issue. Good luck!
