You want to be able to get outside and enjoy the weather in the summertime, but bugs can drive you indoors. Bugs that sting, such as wasps or yellow jackets, can pose a particular problem, especially if you have young kids. They get worse later in the summer when their other food sources dwindle, and they seek out alternatives, like sugary food or drinks. The good news is that you can easily make an effective yellow jacket trap with some basic items and tools that you probably already have, or can get from your local NH Ace Hardware store.
Ready to banish yellow jackets from your yard? Take a quick trip to your NH Ace hardware store and make this simple yet effective trap.
Easy DIY Yellow Jacket Trap
You only need a handful of materials and a few tools to make this trap. Here’s the list:
- A 2-liter soda bottle
- Dish soap
- Water
- Apple cider vinegar or fruit juice
- Twist ties
- Thin wire or string
- A hole punch
- A utility knife
- Measuring cups and spoons
Assembly Instructions
Building this trap only takes a few simple steps. First, use the utility knife to cut off the top of the bottle, just before the shoulder, so you cut off what looks like a funnel. You’ll need both pieces, so do your best to keep them intact.
Next, put your bait solution in the trap. Pour a cup of water into the bottom of the bottle, then add a teaspoon of dish soap and a tablespoon of cider vinegar or juice. The sugar from the cider vinegar or juice attracts the yellow jackets, and the dish soap breaks the surface tension of the water.
Finish assembling the trap by placing the funnel portion of the bottle, neck down, into the other half. Punch a few evenly spaced holes along the top edge and secure the pieces together with twist ties.
Placing the Trap
You want to position the trap at least 20 feet from porches, picnic tables, or play areas and at least 4 feet from the ground. The easiest way to get it high enough off the ground is to hang it. Thread cord or wire through two of the punched holes and hang the trap from a sturdy tree branch. If you don’t have anywhere to hang it, you can place the trap on a raised surface.
Empty dead wasps from the trap in the evening and refill the bait solution. If you don’t seem to be attracting many wasps, put a little jam or syrup near the entrance of the funnel to draw them into the trap.
