BUZZ OFF
Little known trick to keep wasps away all summer using a 1p coin
WASPS pose a menace to many this summer - yet a doctor has suggested not only a surprising but also affordable way to fend them away.
TV GP Amir Khan revealed the remedy during a guest spot on ITV's Lorraine show - prompting plenty of appreciation from viewers.
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The medic told how the simple act of rubbing on your skin a 1p coin - or any copper, for that matter - should repel the insects, no matter how awkward anyone might feel when doing so in public.
Dr Khan's advice came as Lorraine complained about wasps as "horrible wee things" and "evil".
Yet he hit back: "No, Lorraine! Wasps have a bad reputation but it's important to know that they are important pollinators for our plants and flowers."
And he insisted: "Think about copper, these copper coins - we've probably got jars of them in our homes.
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"But if you rub that on your skin, the smell of copper repels wasps as well."
It wasn't his only recommendation, however, delivered from his surgery in Bradford.
Others for people feeling plagued by what's forecast to be a flying pest invasion this summer include avoiding wearing bright clothing.
He also suggested placing thick slices of cucumber on aluminium trays - pointing out: "They don't like cucumbers.
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"This skin tastes bitter and acidic to them."
Other scents tipped to turn them off which have been highlighted by experts, though, include garlic, basil and peppermint oil.
Aromas to avoid, however, would be flowering plants that produce nectar since wasps would swarm towards the sweet smell.
Fans of the penny coin trick include "Queen Of Clean" Instagram influencer Mrs Hinch.
She has said: "Half-fill some clear plastic bags with water, with a few coins in them.
"Hang on windows or doors and you won’t see a fly in your house. They think the bags are hives and won’t go near.”
There have been more potential counter-measures shared, such as spraying around WD40 and lighting scented candles.
Experts have also advised, however, against killing wasps - describing them as "essential pollinators" who help maintain nature's balance in gardens, while warning wiping any out might only attract more.
Assistance provider HomeServe has warned they expect to see a 150% increase in wasps this summer due to the hot weather.
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It is estimated that there are up to 1m wasps per square mile in the - the equivalent of 94bn, based on the Britain's 94,058sq m size.
The forecast suggests, then, a wasp population ahead of 235bn - outnumbering humans to 3,500 to one.
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