Wasp-repelling device helps campers
A UK company has created a unique wasp repellent, called the Waspinator, which could make camping a safer pursuit during the summer.
The new product creates wasp-free zones without killing wasps and without using any chemicals, making it both insect and eco-friendly. The Waspinator is an artificial wasps’ nest. When visiting wasps see the Waspinator hanging up, they believe another wasp colony has taken over the surrounding area. Being very territorial, wasps will keep away from existing nests because they are afraid of being attacked by the resident wasps.
The device is made from recyclable polypropylene and is weatherproof. It can be squished up to transport and can easily be puffed back up to its working shape.
“Waspinator is based upon the principle that prevention is always better than cure,” said Richard Piddocke of Waspinator Ltd. “Conventional wasp traps aim to deal with wasps by first attracting and then killing them – but why do this when you can just prevent them from coming near you in the first place? When a wasp is trapped and dying it emits a pheromone which acts like a panic signal, and other wasps will come to see what the problem is. As even an average-sized wasps’ nest contains at least two thousand wasps you will never completely deal with the problem with traps, so keeping them away is a more effective solution.”
Waspinator has been described by the World Wildlife Fund as “a product which enhances outdoor living without harming the environment”.
