Want to ward off wasps? Expert reveals how to repel the insects this summer 

Dr Amir Khan has shared his top tips for avoiding pesky wasps this summer as the weather heats up.

The beloved GP appeared via video call from his surgery in Bradford on ITV’s Lorraine this morning, alongside Dr Hilary, who was in the studio.

As Glaswegian presenter Lorraine Kelly revealed she cannot stand wasps, Dr Amir jumped to their defence and listed their benefits and purpose within the ecosystem.

However, he conceded that wasp stings can be painful, and aside from the sting, the insects can be a nuisance.

The GP revealed his top tips for keeping wasps away from you while you’re outside enjoying the summer sunshine – and hence lessening your chance of being stung.

Referring to the insects as ‘horrible wee things’, Lorraine, 63, told Amir she loved bees, but thought wasps were simply ‘evil’.

The GP responded: ‘No Lorraine! Wasps have a bad reputation but it’s important to know that they are important pollinators for our plants and flowers.’

He added that their predatory nature means they can control the numbers of smaller insects such as green flies.  

‘They’re not all bad,’ he said, before adding: ‘They only sting as a defence mechanism.’

Although branded ‘evil’ by Lorraine, Dr Amir cited the benefits of the insects to our ecosystem

He then revealed the first of his tips to avoid being stung by a wasp, which was, very simply, not to annoy them.

‘You won’t win that fight,’ he warned.

Dr Amir’s second piece of advice was to be mindful of your summer outfits, noting the colours wasps are most drawn to such as ‘bright’ tones.

He explained: ‘Whites and yellows, they’re more likely to find you then. 

‘If you’ve got dark colours on, blues and blacks, they’re less likely to find you.’

However, gesturing to his own burgundy scrubs as he chatted to Lorraine from his surgery, Dr Amir said: ‘I’m wearing red today, because actually, wasps can’t see red. So this part of me will be invisible to wasps.’

For the picnic-goers watching the segment, he advised them to consider the ingredients they were putting in their picnic baskets, encouraging them to think about one snack in particular.

‘They don’t like cucumber,’ he explained, holding one up to the camera as he pointed to its outer later.

‘This skin tastes bitter and acidic to them.’

As people dress to the nines in their best summer outfits, he also encouraged them to be mindful of their perfume and aftershave – particularly more floral scents.

In his final piece of advice, Dr Amir shared a slighty unusual trick.

Explaining that the smell of copper repels wasps, he recommended rubbing copper coins on your skin before you go outside.