The last guest you want to attend your Sunday barbecue is a wasp. Your friends and family won’t be able to kick back and relax if a hoard of aggressive wasps are buzzing around, trying to land on their food. Not only does this throw off the vibes, but it can also be dangerous. They can interpret the dishes as their new food source and become very territorial if you try to swat them away. This can lead to multiple stings, which can be very painful. Obviously, that would put a major damper on the party, but luckily, there is a very easy way to keep them at bay. And all you need to do is root around in your change jar, because the answer to your problem is a handful of pennies!
This is a great hack to try since almost everyone has a couple of pennies in their house. Since you don’t have to go out and buy a specialty item, there’s no risk in trying it. The best case scenario is that it works and it keeps your BBQ pest-free — all without spending a dime! Intrigued? Here’s how to do it.
Using pennies to deter wasps
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Wasps will buzz around your BBQ for various reasons. If it’s the beginning of the season when they’re busy building their nests, their bodies will need protein for fuel and will be attracted to the grilled meat being set out. However, if it’s the end of summer when their lifecycle ends, they’ll be craving sugar, so they will come looking for your desserts or condiments. Whatever the need, you still don’t want them hanging around your party. That’s where the pennies come in. All you need to get rid of wasps is to fill a glass jar with water and toss anywhere from three to six pennies in there. If you don’t have a glass jar handy, you can also use a clear sandwich bag. Put one by the grill and another on the table, which is where they will most likely be buzzing around.
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The theories on why this works vary, but the most accepted one is that the wasps are deterred from the refracting light of the jars. When the sunshine hits the water and copper, it refracts, and since their eyes are complex, it confuses and disturbs them. They won’t fly directly into danger since it’s not an easy way to get a food source, so instead, they will fly away somewhere else. While this isn’t proven by science or research, there is plenty of anecdotal evidence, so it’s worth a shot! It might just deter pesky wasps from ruining your cookout.
