The Waspinator 2

We can't say that we're so one with nature that wasps don't bother us — stinging or not, the buzzing and flying around is enough to drive anyone crazy — but chemicals and traps bug us even more. Even removal gives us a pang, after the insects have worked so hard.

The Waspinator 2 prevents wasps from even setting foot in the area by working as a decoy, sending the message to home-hunters that the spot is already taken. It does this with its color, shape and placement (hanging under an eave, or other overhang), and not with any coating or chemical.

It's not beautiful, but luckily wasps are involved in nest building only a few months out of the year, albeit the spring and early summer ones that we're most likely to want to spend outside, looking at the thing. We bet we could DIY a prettier one (or just use an old, uninhabited one — has anyone tried this?).

We're curious — but almost afraid — of what the Waspinator 1 did.

$20 at SkyMall

Via: Gizmodo

Comments (10)

I think this thing my prevent my friends and family from ever stepping foot in the area as well.

posted by valleyval on July 2nd 2008 at 1:23pm
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how is this environmentally friendly? we should not be messing with nature more than we already are. you eat out with nature you respect nature.

posted by LoriSF on July 2nd 2008 at 1:24pm
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This is an awesome example of the epitome of uselessness known as SkyMall. One notch down from the headlight-equipped bedroom slippers.

posted by Thomos on July 2nd 2008 at 2:41pm
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Hilarious!

posted by Eve in Hochelaga on July 2nd 2008 at 4:20pm
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With many animals (squirrels for instance), the presence of humans allows them to thrive and fill in niches vacated by other animals. Nature has already been "messed with" by the mere fact that you have a house, yard, roads, and everything that goes with daily life. It's not going to destroy wasp civilization if you put up a decoy.

posted by ChristopherB on July 2nd 2008 at 7:17pm
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We used to make something similar out of a brown paper bag. We'd inflate the bag and tie a string around the opening and then hang one over the front and back door.

I don't know if it chased off any wasps or not - we did it to scare the flies away from the doors so they wouldn't try to sneak by the screens when we'd go in and out.

posted by Poster on July 2nd 2008 at 10:19pm
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I'm allergic to wasp stings - should I just let nature take its course? Toss the epi-pen and just let evolution take its course?
I certainly understand some things - don't park yourself under a beehive and not expect to get stung and generally leave the natural world natural. However, I think preventitive measures are less affecting to the insect population than spraying a can of poisonous aerosolized fluid at a new nest.

posted by pbblythe on July 3rd 2008 at 4:15am
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This is an excellent idea -- wasps are dangerous to those of us who have family members who will die if stung.

posted by Elle B on July 3rd 2008 at 5:54am
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I bet a crafty person could sew one of these. Any takers?

posted by Sisero on July 3rd 2008 at 7:22am
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Oh SkyMall - how it never ceases to amaze me.

posted by twenty twenty-one on July 3rd 2008 at 8:43am
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