Do Wasps Hate Peppermint Oil?

Right about this time of year the wasps are unbearable! How do we keep them away without resorting to using chemicals? I’ve talked a lot about natural pest control and the many uses for peppermint oil so that brings up the question “Do Wasps Hate Peppermint Oil?” because it seems to keep them away.

Peppermint oil works effectively in repelling wasps, according to a study published in the Journal of Pest Management Science in 2013.

[Paper wasps] collect caterpillars, beetle larvae, and other insect prey to feed their young. Don’t be too quick to get rid of a paper wasp colony if it isn’t causing a problem.

According to various studies on essential oils, it has been observed that they are an effective insect repellent against paper wasps, the most common in the United States.

According to PestWorld.org, paper wasps get their common name from the paper-like material out of which they make their nests. Paper wasps are sometimes called umbrella wasps, after the shape of their distinctive nests. Paper wasps hang their comb nests from twigs and branches of trees and shrubs, porch ceilings, the tops of window and door frames, soffits, eaves, attic rafters, deck floor joists and railings, etc. While not aggressive in nature, paper wasps will sting if threatened or disturbed.

So to answer the question “Do wasps hate peppermint oil” – wasps hate any kind of mint, including peppermint. Add a few drops of peppermint oil onto cotton balls and place them in strategic areas around the outside of your home where wasps are likely to build nests, including eaves, shutters, fences or stairs.