The presence of stinging insects like yellow jackets and wasps can quickly interrupt outdoor enjoyment, prompting many people to seek effective pest control solutions. Creating a homemade trap offers a low-cost, practical method to manage these nuisance insects around patios and outdoor dining areas. This guide focuses on constructing a trap specifically designed to capture aggressive wasps and yellow jackets, not beneficial pollinating insects like honeybees.
Clarifying the Target: Pests vs. Pollinators
Successful trapping requires targeting pest species while leaving important pollinators unharmed. Honeybees have fuzzy, round bodies often colored golden-brown, and they are generally non-aggressive, stinging only when their hive is directly threatened. They focus on gathering nectar and pollen from flowers, rarely scavenging human food.
Conversely, yellow jackets and other wasps are sleek, smooth, and shiny with vivid yellow and black markings. These insects have a distinct, tapered waist where the abdomen meets the thorax, unlike the broader body of a bee. Yellow jackets are aggressive scavengers, drawn to human foods like meat and sugary drinks, and they can sting multiple times. The trap’s design and specialized bait exploit these scavenging behaviors, avoiding the floral attractants that appeal to honeybees.
Step-by-Step Trap Construction
The most common and effective do-it-yourself trap uses a simple plastic bottle to create an inverted funnel system. Gather one clean, empty plastic soda or water bottle, ideally a one- or two-liter size, along with a sharp utility knife or strong scissors.
Carefully cut the top portion of the bottle off, making the cut just below the curved “shoulder” where the bottle neck begins to straighten. This creates two pieces: a larger bottom reservoir and a smaller top section that resembles a funnel.
Remove the bottle cap from the small top section and flip this piece upside down. Insert the neck of the inverted top piece into the opening of the larger bottom reservoir. This creates a restrictive funnel that allows insects to enter but makes their escape difficult. The fit should be snug, but you can secure the pieces together with duct tape or strong packing tape to ensure stability.
Finally, near the top rim of the larger reservoir, puncture two small holes directly opposite each other using a sharp tool or a hole punch. Thread a piece of string, wire, or twine through these holes to create a hanger. The finished trap works because insects, drawn by the bait, fly down the funnel but cannot easily navigate back out of the small inverted opening.
Bait Selection and Placement Strategy
Trap success relies on selecting the correct bait, which should change depending on the time of year to match the wasps’ nutritional needs. In the spring and early summer, colonies require protein to feed their developing larvae, making meat-based baits effective. Place a small amount of unseasoned cooked chicken, canned mackerel, or liverwurst in the bottom of the trap to appeal to this protein-seeking behavior.
By late summer and fall, as the colony stops growing, the adult workers switch their focus to carbohydrate-rich foods for energy. During this period, sweet liquids work best, such as sugar water, fruit punch, or a 1:1 ratio of fruit punch and beer. Adding a drop of dish soap to any liquid bait helps break the surface tension, ensuring the insects quickly drown upon contact. A splash of vinegar can also be added to a sweet bait to discourage honeybees from entering the trap.
The trap’s location is as important as the bait used; it should be positioned to intercept wasps before they reach high-traffic human areas. Hang the trap about 15 to 20 feet away from where people gather.
Place the trap in a quiet, sunny spot, roughly four feet off the ground, where a slight breeze can carry the scent attractant downwind toward the wasps’ foraging paths. Traps need to be checked and maintained regularly. When disposing of the contents, wear protective clothing and submerge the trap in soapy water to immobilize any remaining live insects.