Monarch butterflies can be one of the most beautiful visitors to your garden! You will definitely enjoy their happy dance around your favorite plants.
If you happen to see these beauties less often in your yard, unfortunately, it means that wasps are eating the little caterpillars. They won’t give them the opportunity to grow into the cute butterflies that will fly around your garden.
You don’t want to completely end your friendship with wasps because they are important pollinators in your garden. With the help of these wise tricks, you can prevent yellowjackets from harming caterpillars in a friendly way!
#1 Do Everything In Your Power To Protect Caterpillars’ Food, Milkweed
Milkweed is definitely caterpillars’ favorite treat. If you go out into your garden, you will probably be able to see little caterpillars crawling on it .
They will have a good time until the wasps come along and spoil their day! Now, you are probably wondering how you can protect them. The answer lies in bug cloth, which you can use to cover the flowers in your garden!
When you see that the monarch eggs have been laid, it’s time to put up a cover that will save them! The little larvae will be safe until they become beautiful butterflies. This method is an excellent choice because it is breathable and will provide your plants with enough air!
Don’t be surprised if the milkweed disappears soon, as the caterpillars are little foodies and won’t be able to resist it! So, make sure to equip yourself with plenty of these blossoms.
#2 Make A Friendly Trap By Planting Blooms Rich In Yummy Nectar
To distract the wasps, I have a genius idea for you! Plant plenty of flowers full of nectar to distract them! This is an excellent way to keep your friendship with these buzzers alive!
You’ll provide the pollinators with enough dessert and greatly benefit your ecosystem! What flowers do wasps like? You can plant figwort, monarda, and sunflowers! Grow them away from the milkweed to prevent them from accidentally straying over to the small caterpillars.
#3 Be Careful If You Decide To Move A Yellowjacket Nest
If you discover a wasp nest in your garden and want to get rid of it, this is a pretty dangerous method!
Just imagine being attacked by a swarm of wasps and running to a lake with a big straw. That would look like a really funny scene from Looney Tunes! Just one spoiler alert, it will be the reality you can expect. It won’t be like a cartoon scene where your sting will disappear immediately.
If you still have the courage, then put on a protective suit and start the removal operation after the sun goes down. Wasps are not night owls, so this is an ideal time for you to do it!
Place a bag over the nest and try to be gentle so you don’t destroy their home. Then move them to a new location, away from your garden. Place it in a stable place and then quickly run to your house!
My friendly advice is that you should not do it yourself, but call experts and let them do all the work! After all, this is the safest option.
Once you get all the work done, you can safely enjoy the cottage vibes in your garden. And what’s even better is that you don’t have to choose sides and ruin your friendship with the wasps. So, hurry up and save your favorite visitors!