Where do the stations go?
Intercept wasps between their food source and your tables — at the property edge, near the dumpster, and along the flight lines you can watch them travel.
- Watch where wasps come from at mid-morning — usually the dumpster, a planter bed, or open ground beyond the patio.
- Set stations along that line, 15–30 feet out, so foragers feed before they reach guests.
- Ring the dumpster corral, the single biggest draw on most properties.
- Keep every station off the tables, the bar, and the kid zone.
The trash enclosure is where most patios lose the battle. A station at each corner of the corral pulls foragers off the cans and routes the dose back to the nest.
Why does the patio get worse in late summer?
Colonies peak in late summer and workers switch to scavenging sugars and scraps — right when your patio is busiest.
That timing is why a station you ignored in June feels useless in August. Get ahead of it: start baiting in late spring with protein bait, then switch to sweet bait as the swarming starts. Read the full timeline so staff know what "working" looks like day to day.
Will baiting disrupt service?
No. Stations sit at the edges and run in the background — your team just refills them on the rounds they already make.
Unlike a sprayer, a bait station needs no closed section, no wait time, and no warning to guests. Fold refills into opening checks. An enclosed station also keeps bait off surfaces and out of reach — the right call where you serve food. See the safety guide.
Key takeaway
Edge-placed stations on the flight path to the dumpster intercept foragers before they reach diners — no spraying near food. Set them up before the late-summer swarm.
Placement & spacing guide →FAQ
How do I keep yellow jackets away from a restaurant patio?
Place bait stations at the patio edge and along the path to your dumpster, 15–30 feet from tables. Foragers feed before reaching diners and carry the bait home, thinning wasps in days and collapsing colonies in one to two weeks — no spraying near food.
Why are there so many wasps on my patio in late summer?
Colonies peak in late summer and workers switch to scavenging sugars and protein scraps — exactly what a patio offers. Their numbers spike right as outdoor dining is busiest, so late-summer baiting matters most.
Do traps work better than bait on a patio?
Traps near tables can actually draw wasps toward guests. Bait stations at the edge pull them away and end the colony — a better fit for dining areas.