Homemade Bee Trap

While bees do serve a valuable purpose, they can become pests in numbers.

Wasps and bees both offer benefits by pollinating plants and flowers, but when nests come too close to homes, they can become pests very quickly. There are hundreds of commercially available wasp and bee sprays, repellents and poisons, but these chemical weapons are not always viable options, particularly if small pets or children may be near the areas to be sprayed. Homemade bee traps are simple and reduce the numbers of pest bees and wasps.

Things You'll Need

• Empty 2-liter bottle
• Stapler
• Craft knife or scissors
• Sugar or honey

Instructions

1. Remove and discard the lid to an empty 2-liter bottle (there is no need to rinse or wash the bottle).

2. Cut the neck off of the bottle just above the "shoulder" (right at the point where the bottle begins sloping towards the neck) with a pair of sharp scissors or a craft knife.

3. Invert the top portion of the bottle into the bottom portion, so that the top of the bottle creates a funnel into the lower portion. Secure in place with a few staples around the rim.

4. Mix 1 to 2 cups of lukewarm tap water with ¼ cup plain white sugar or honey in a separate cup or container, and slowly pour into the bee trap.

5. Place the finished bee traps in proximity to the nest area, or around decks, patios and yards. The bees will enter the mouth of the trap, drawn to the scent of the sugar water, and become trapped within the bottle, unable to climb back up the sides. Eventually, most bees will drop into the water and drown.

Tips & Warnings

• Different baits work well with different species of bees, though most will be attracted to the sugar water mixture. Wasps may visit the traps as well, but spring wasps are often more attracted to meaty snacks such as bits of raw beef or peanut butter. Horseflies and deerflies will also use these traps.

• Always empty traps carefully in case live bees remain stuck inside. It may be easier and safer to simply cover the trap opening by taping it shut, and make new traps to replace the filled ones.

References

• Apartment Therapy: How to make a bee trap
• Earth Easy: Wasp Traps