Make a Wasp Trap

Wasps have their place in the ecosystem. They're particularly helpful in controlling pests that wreck crops. But when they happen to make their nest too close to home and pose a danger to people and household pets, they become pests themselves. One way to make a wasp trap is to cut and invert the neck portion of a plastic bottle into the body of the bottle, then bait the trap with sugar and laundry soap (or other attractive bait) before hanging it up; wasps trapped inside should have trouble getting out, but coating the opening with oil can make it even more difficult for them if an uncoated opening doesn't seem to work well enough.

Steps

  1. Take a Make a Helical Spring from a Plastic Bottle and cut the neck off. (The neck is the cone part of the bottle including the cap.)
  2. Flip the neck upside-down, removing the cap first, and place the neck into the bottle.
  3. Tape and/or staple the top together or drill a couple of holes and keep them together by two screws, which you can even use to hang it up. Keep in mind that you will need to take them apart often to switch out the bait and remove dead wasps.
  4. Bait the trap. It should not reach the opening of the bottle––the wasps should have to completely enter the trap in order to access the bait. You can also do this before you attach the two pieces together. Some bait ideas include:
    • Meat - This is the best choice in the spring and late winter because wasps are making nests and laying eggs, so they're searching for high protein food; you may even catch a queen this way, in which case the wasps will relocate their nest.[1]
    • Dishwashing liquid and water
    • Mashed grapes
    • Sugar and lemon juice
    • Kokanee beer or coolers
    • Sugar and water
    • Sugar and vinegar
    • 1 tsp liquid laundry soap, 1 tsp sugar (to attract them), and water - if they do get out, they will still die from the laundry soap
    • Soda (lemonade, etc.) that has lost its fizz. This way it can still be of use. Add a few drops of washing up liquid to help break the surface tension of the soda.
  5. (optional) Tape some string to the bottle, (or make holes and put the string through) and hang it up in an area with many wasps.
    • Once the wasps go in they can't figure out how to get out, so they get trapped.
    • Adding petroleum jelly or cooking oil along the steep edges of the trap can cause them to lose their footing and fall into the hole.
  6. Empty the trap regularly. Be sure the wasps are dead before removing them. Not only do you want to prevent a defensive sting, but living wasps that escape may return with their friends. Pour hot, soapy water into the funnel (the upside-down neck of the bottle) to make sure, or put a plastic bag over the trap and put it in the freezer for a few days.[2] Bury the dead wasps, or flush them down the toilet, as their bodies might release a chemical that alerts the rest of the colony to their fate.[1]
  7. Finished.



Tips

  • Be careful not to trap bees. Bees are important pollinators and are very beneficial. You can avoid trapping bees by placing the trap away from plants in bloom. For example, don't place the trap in a blooming fruit tree or in a flower garden. Using meat helps avoid trapping bees.
  • Another tip is to line the top of the trap with yellow or bright orange tape. Wasps are attracted to this colorful line.
  • If you use meat as your bait, note that chicken does not seem to work very well. Also, add a little bit of water to the bottle if you use meat, so that the meat will not dry out. Raw and rotting meat works better than cooked fresh meat.
  • Use a protein source as bait in the spring and early summer, and something sweet in the late summer and fall.
  • You can also use an empty jam jar, with a little bit of jam in it, which is then topped up with water, covered with cling film with small holes in it.
  • It is also good to wear protective gear when putting up the trap during a clear, sunny day. Wasps or bees tend to stay out of their nests during that kind of weather. Try putting up the trap during night if you don't have any protective gear.
  • When you're putting the trap together, you may want to make sure that you clean and dry the bottle first.
  • Wasps (and other insects) do not get "angry", they get defensive of themselves and their nests. If you swat one they are not going to chase you down to sting you, if it gets out of the trap it isn't going to hunt you down to sting you. If you get stung the wasp feels immediately in danger by you and is protecting itself or its hive/nest.
  • You can also use this technique to get rid of fruit flies. Instead add some fruit to the bottle.
  • When trapping wasps make a mixture of water, Jam syrup (golden works best), Coca-Cola, and beer.

Warnings

  • Do not place the trap anywhere near where children or pets will be spending time, as living wasps will be attracted by the trap.
  • This is a measure to minimize wasp presence, not eliminate it (unless you catch a queen). The only way to keep wasps away completely is to remove their nest.
  • Be careful when handling a knife or the wasps (even the dead ones).

Things You'll Need

  • Plastic bottle
  • Knife or scissors (to cut the bottle)
  • Tape
  • String
  • Sugar
  • Lemon juice

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf74366323.tip.html
  2. ↑ http://www.howtodothings.com/home-and-garden/a3949-how-to-use-wasp-traps.html
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