How to Make Hornet Traps
Hornets are beneficial insects that prey on harmful pest insect species, but they can be a problem. They can be aggressive when defending their nests, and their painful stings can cause life-threatening allergic reactions. Traps can be an effective method of controlling hornet populations in the early spring. Hornet queens can't build nests when they end up in the trap. Traps also can be used to reduce worker populations later in the summer. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- 2-liter plastic soda bottle
- Utility knife
- Soap
- Water
- Lunch meat or chicken skin
- String
- Stapler
Instructions
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1
Unscrew the cap on the 2-liter bottle and throw it away.
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2
Cut around the edge of the bottle using a utility knife. Make the incision at the point where the bottle begins to narrow at the neck. Grasp the body of the bottle and turn it as you cut through the plastic. Set the top aside.
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3
Add approximately 1 to 2 inches of soapy water to the bottom of the bottle. The soap cuts the surface tension, making the hornets drown faster.
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4
Tie one end of the string around the chicken skin or piece of lunch meat. Tie the other end of the string to the top of the bottle.
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5
Insert the top of the bottle to the bottom, with the top pointing downward. You want the bait to hang just over the water.
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6
Staple or tape around the edges to keep the top in place.
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7
Punch a hole in either side of the trap near the top edge and run a string through the holes if you plan to hang the trap. Skip this step if you want to place the trap on a surface.
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Tips & Warnings
Place the traps around the perimeter of the area you want to protect from hornets. Try to place them approximately 20 feet from each other for maximum coverage.
Throw the trap away when the meat gets moldy, or the trap fills with hornets. Opening the trap may release angry survivors.
