Random Question! Why are wasps attracted to my garden chairs!

[QueenHofScotland]

I got a free wooden table and chairs on my local freebie upcycle page last summer. Thought since we were at home a lot we could paint it.

Well, we have been at home a lot but didn’t ever paint it!

We have so many wasps in the garden this summer and we’ve realised they are particularly attracted to the table and chairs - mostly the chairs. There is a constant presence! For example, I came out to the garden yesterday and there were 7 or 8 wasps on 2 of the chairs chairs.

Can I do anything to get rid of them?

And what is it about the furniture?!

We don’t seem to have a nest in our garden or house but it must be nearby (have no idea how far they travel!)

It means eating outside is a pain in the ass. We can’t get a seconds peace from them.

We generally don’t mind things buzzing around us in the garden but this is unbearable!

Maybe a silly question but have you tried cleaning them? Might be something spilt on them

Are they chewing the wood? I've noticed they do that on my neighbour's wooden fence. If it's very quiet you can hear them.

wasps collect wood for their nest.
they gnaw on soft/rotting wood

I did not know that!

We cleaned them when we collected them last year, and clean up any spillages as they happen, so there isn’t anything on them that has been spilled etc.

Would painting or treating them help?

I’ve noticed some on our sleepers today - so that makes sense about them collecting. Not too fussed about them on the sleepers because they aren’t bothering us. But they bother us constantly when we are eating out in the garden. I sit for seconds and there are 2/3 around me.

They're definitely chewing the wood, basically making paper to make their nests.

Painting it would probably sort it.

Can’t decide whether to just get rid or paint them! They are a bit by their best but I hate waste. We could potentially use it for fire wood.

The table has been painted more recently than the chairs. There is no paint / treatment left on them so this is making more sense to me now.

I don’t like to kill wasps but they don’t give us any peace at all.

We aren’t the kind of family who jumps up and screams when a wasp buzzed around the leaves. But they are so persistent and erratic 😂

www.amazon.co.uk/Waspinator-Amazing-Wasp-Repellent-Twin/dp/B001UABS2S/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?hvlocphy=1006674&hvnetw=g&keywords=waspinator&hvadid=259133832875&qid=1629984808&dchild=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI0a2WyebO8gIVBOvtCh2quQOHEAAYAiAAEgLQ3vD_BwE&hydadcr=14410_1763481&hvdev=m&hvqmt=e&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&hvtargid=kwd-296307520482&adgrpid=58895006291&hvrand=12106774951027452766&sr=8-3

We have painted wood they aren't attracted too.
And an old unpainted trellis they are slowly destroying.😂 Which is fine by us.

I only find them troublesome to us humans as the season ends. They still seem intent on munching the trellis!

The waspinator is great in theory but I had wasps make a nest directly beneath one a few years ago!

@MinesAMassiveSalad

We have painted wood they aren't attracted too. And an old unpainted trellis they are slowly destroying.😂 Which is fine by us.

I only find them troublesome to us humans as the season ends. They still seem intent on munching the trellis!

Agree, but now I know that they have been kicked out to die and are on sugar withdrawal I hang beer/cider traps. I hate killing things but if they are going to die anyway I figure they can die happy.

Agree, but now I know that they have been kicked out to die and are on sugar withdrawal I hang beer/cider traps. I hate killing things but if they are going to die anyway I figure they can die happy.

This is the sort of reasoning I employ and my family look at me like this:

@FreezerBird same!

Are they maple or sycamore wood? Both have a higher than average sugar content, compared to other types of wood.

Ah, that explains it. They seem to undergo a personality change.

And the Butterfly Brothers have lots of videos on their channel on different garden projects.

Oops wrong thread.

Not sure what type of wood they are. DH might know.

I don’t like killing things either but when they attack us I don’t have any qualms 😂

And like you say they are on their way out anyway.

Wouldn’t kill a bee but have to be honest and say I don’t know if that’s naive of me…are wasps as important?

@MinesAMassiveSalad

Oops wrong thread.

😂

Although if you want to enjoy wildlife in your garden the recommendation stands!😄