How to Trap Wasps: Easy DIY Tips for Indoors & Outdoors

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Everything you need to make your own wasp traps
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When wasps make a nest too close to home, they can pose a danger to people and household pets. While you can purchase wasp traps, they’re often sticky and difficult to set up. Instead, try making your own reusable wasp trap out of a plastic bottle or bucket and some enticing bait like meat, sugar, or dish soap. This homemade wasp trap is not only effective for catching the wasps, but it’s also easy to set up and maintain. Plus, we spoke with pest control expert Chris Parker to learn the best ways to trap wasps in and around your home.

Easiest Way to Make a DIY Wasp Trap

  1. Remove the label from a soda bottle.
  2. Use a black marker to draw a line around the neck.
  3. Cut off the bottle’s neck on the marked line.
  4. Wipe olive oil inside the bottle and reattach the neck upside-down.
  5. Bait the trap with protein in the spring/summer and juice in the late summer/fall.
Section 1 of 4:

Making a Soda Bottle Wasp Trap

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Wasp Trap
    Draw a line with a marker around the neck of the plastic 2 L (0.53 US gal) soda bottle where the bottle’s mid-section becomes a straight cylinder. Use a razor, knife, or pair of scissors to cut along the line. Just make sure that whatever you choose is sharp enough to cut through the plastic bottle .
    • Choose a clear or transparent bottle so you can easily see inside. You can use an opaque bottle that doesn’t have removable labels, but it’s harder to check if you’ve trapped any wasps. [1]
    • You can use a different type of plastic bottle or carton to make this trap, but make sure that the opening of the bottle or carton is large enough for wasps to crawl through. [2]
    • If you use a milk carton, draw the line around the top just under the natural crease that forms the triangular top.
    • To prevent the bottle from slipping as you cut, place it on a slightly damp cloth or towel to help hold it in place.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Wasp Trap
    Pour 1 teaspoon (4.9 mL) of olive oil onto a paper towel and use it to grease the inside of the bottle and funnel. The oil creates a slippery barrier the wasps won’t be able to climb, which makes the trap more effective. However, the oil can become tacky over time if you don’t maintain it or clean the bottle periodically.
    • Try petroleum jelly if you don’t want to use olive oil.
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  3. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Wasp Trap
    The neck of the bottle will serve as a funnel for the wasps to enter, but not exit, the trap. Then, tape the two pieces together along the cut edges to hold the funnel in place. Use clear packing tape so you can easily see when a wasp is inside the trap. [3]
    • For opaque tape, like duct tape, cut the strip in half to keep the band of tape as narrow as possible.
    • Make sure to remove the cap before placing the neck into the bottle.
  4. Use a hole-puncher, scissors, awl, or another pointed implement to make the 2 holes. Just be careful when making the holes so you don’t injure yourself. [4]
  5. This creates a handle to hang your wasp trap. Use any type of string you have around, but try to pick one that is sturdy enough to hold the weight of the trap and withstand any wind that might blow it around. [5]
    • A sturdy twine or even an old shoelace would work well as a handle for the wasp trap.
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Section 2 of 4:

How to Use a Soda Bottle Wasp Trap

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Wasp Trap
    Dilute the mixture with water to create a solution that helps drown the wasps. In the spring and early summer months, wasps focus on making nests and laying eggs, so they’ll be looking for protein sources. [6]
    • If you use meat during this time, you may even catch the queen wasp, which will force the rest of the nest to relocate.
    • Meat baits also work to trap houseflies.
    • Add a waterproof LED light at the bottom of the bottle to lure Brown Marmorated Stink Bugs.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Wasp Trap
    Mix the sweet substance with water and liquid dish soap . In the later summer and early fall months, the wasps want more energy, so they look for carbohydrates in the form of sweet food. Some sweet options include sugar, lemon juice , or apple cider vinegar. You may have to experiment with the type and amount of sweet options to attract the wasps. [7]
    • The dish soap will break the surface tension of the water and drown the wasp. Increase the amounts of water and soap as needed to fill your trap, but try and keep a ratio of 1 teaspoon (4.9 mL) of liquid dish soap for every 1 cup (240 mL)} of water. [8]
    • If you would rather release the wasp than drown it, don’t add dish soap to the bait solution. Using dish soap coats any wasps that escape and eventually suffocates them. [9]
    • Vinegar is often used as a natural wasp repellant , but studies have found that mixing apple cider vinegar with water can work as a bait for wasps because they’re attracted to the acetic acid in it. [10]
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Wasp Trap
    Make sure there’s about 1–2 in (2.5–5.1 cm) of the solution inside the bottle. This is shallow enough to allow the wasps to access the inside of the trap but forces them to completely enter to access the bait. [11]
    • If you’re using a bottle that’s shorter than the typical 2 L (0.53 US gal) plastic bottle, add less solution so there’s at least 2 in (5.1 cm) of space between the baiting solution and the opening of the funnel.
    • If you plan to release the wasps, only add 1–3 tablespoons (15–44 mL) of the solution to the bottle. This is enough solution to attract the wasps, but not enough to drown them.
  4. Stand the trap on a small table or stool so it’s slightly elevated. Or, hang the trap from a fence post or a low tree branch. Traps that are hung about 4 feet (1.2 m) from the ground tend to catch more wasps than traps left on the ground.
    • Don't want to place it in an area close to where you frequently hang out or work to avoid getting stung when the wasps start to come to the bait. Keep the trap about 27 feet (8.2 m) away from your main gathering area outside. [12]
  5. Make sure you’re using the right bait and placing your trap in the right spot to attract the wasps by checking it at least once a day. After you know it’s working, remove the funnel and dispose of the bait and dead wasps every 3 days. [13]
    • If you don’t catch any wasps, try relocating the trap to another area where you’ve seen the wasps, or try a different bait.
    • If you let the trap fill up with dead wasps, it creates a place for other wasps to stand to avoid drowning.
    • Make sure all the wasps in the trap are dead before removing the tape. Any live wasps in the trap will probably be very aggressive.
    • Wear protective clothing and use extreme caution when releasing live wasps. Release them away from people in an uninhabited area, or they may alert the rest of their colony. [14]
    • The dead body of a wasp releases a chemical that attracts the rest of the colony. Bury or flush the dead wasps to avoid attracting others. [15]
  6. Unlike traditional sticky wasp traps, this homemade trap can be reused. Simply make more bait solution and use it to refill the trap. [16]
    • Apply more olive oil or petroleum jelly if you used that to coat the inside of your trap.
    • If the trap develops a rotten or sour smell, rinse it with hot water before filling it with more bait solution. If the smell persists, consider throwing it out and making another wasp trap or using apple cider vinegar to combat the smell.
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Section 3 of 4:

Making an Outdoor Bucket Trap

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  1. Fill the bucket to about 2–3 inches (5.1–7.6 cm) from the top. [17] Try to keep a ratio of about 5 tablespoons (74 mL) of liquid dish soap for every 1 gallon (3,800 mL)} of water.
  2. Try a protein bait like turkey, ham, or fish in the spring and early summer. In summer and early fall, use a slice of ripe fruit like an apple or pear. Tie the bait to a stick or narrow board. Then. place the stick across the bucket so the bait dangles 1–2 inches (2.5–5.1 cm) above the soapy water. [18]
    • Place a wide mesh screen over the top of the bucket to prevent animals from eating the bait.
    • This type of trap works best with a protein trap in the early spring because it’s more likely to trap a wasp queen, and the colony will leave the area to search for a new queen.
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Section 4 of 4:

How to Catch a Wasp in Your House

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  1. If you want to trap a wasp flying around your home, Parker recommends waiting until near sunset if possible. “You’re gonna see them extremely lethargic, especially as the sun goes down.”
    • How long do wasps live inside?
    • Alternatively, try to open the doors and windows of your home to get rid of a wasp in your home . Use a fan to blow them out the open window.
  2. Wait until the wasp lands on a flat surface, and use a cup or small container to trap it. Try to use a cup that’s transparent so you can see where the wasp is.
  3. Parker recommends holding the cup against the flat surface while sliding a piece of paper underneath to trap the wasp. He also says, “Putting it outside is a very easy, eco-friendly, and safe thing to do most of the time unless you're allergic to wasps.”
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    Can I use a milk carton instead of a plastic bottle?
    Community Answer
    Yes, it's the same concept. As long as the hole for the opening is pointing down, most of the wasps will never figure out how to get out. Also, if you add apple juice with a bit of vinegar to it, honey bees will never go in. I am a beekeeper. The wasps and hornets like the decaying smell of vinegar and the bees do not. Wasps fly forward and you will see them bouncing off the sides.They cannot hover and go straight up where they came from. Eventually they get exhausted and fall into the liquid.
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  • Question
    Would eggs do in place of meat?
    Community Answer
    I would not recommend it. The smell would be really bad and would attract other animals such as skunks or raccoons to the trap.
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  • Question
    Will all wasps be trapped in the bottle or will some escape, posing a threat to children playing in the fields?
    Community Answer
    It is possible for them to escape. Also the article says, "Do not place the trap anywhere near where children or pets will be spending time, as living wasps will be attracted by the trap.".
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      Tips

      Tips from our Readers

      The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
      • If you have a pressure washer with a chemical injector, you can use it to spray bleach on the nests while the wasps are on the nest. The bleach will kill them. I used to do pressure washing professionally and have sprayed hundreds of nests with bleach and I have never been stung while pressure washing.
      • Put dish soap in a hose spray attachment and spray the nest from a good distance. The soap will kill the wasps.
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      Warnings

      • Do not add honey to your trap. This attracts more bees than wasps. [19]
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      • Do not place the trap anywhere near where children or pets spend time. Wasps will be attracted to the trap, so keep it away from popular hangout spots on your property. [20]
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      • Be careful when handling wasps. Even if the wasp is dead, the stinger is still active and can sting you.
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      • If you’re allergic to wasps and get stung, seek medical help immediately. Even if you’re not allergic to wasp stings, receiving multiple stings may require medical attention. [21]
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      Things You'll Need

      • 2 L (0.53 US gal) soda bottle
      • Sharp razor blade or scissors to cut the bottle
      • Hole-puncher
      • Packing tape or Duct tape
      • 12 in (30 cm) long piece of string
      • Water
      • Liquid dish soap
      • Sugar, lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, meat grease, or meat scraps
      • Olive oil or petroleum jelly (optional)

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      References

      1. ↑ https://gardenerdy.com/homemade-wasp-traps-how-to-make-your-own-wasp-trap/
      2. ↑ http://theselfsufficientliving.com/8-homemade-wasp-traps-to-get-rid-of-wasps/
      3. ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/homemade-wasp-trap/
      4. ↑ https://gardenerdy.com/homemade-wasp-traps-how-to-make-your-own-wasp-trap/
      5. ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/homemade-wasp-trap/
      6. ↑ https://extension.psu.edu/programs/master-gardener/counties/monroe/news/wasps-beneficial-insects-and-pollinators
      7. ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/homemade-wasp-trap/
      8. ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/homemade-wasp-trap/
      9. ↑ https://gardenerdy.com/homemade-wasp-traps-how-to-make-your-own-wasp-trap/
      1. ↑ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27435228/
      2. ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/homemade-wasp-trap/
      3. ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/homemade-wasp-trap/
      4. ↑ https://gardenerdy.com/homemade-wasp-traps-how-to-make-your-own-wasp-trap/
      5. ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/homemade-wasp-trap/
      6. ↑ https://www.sciencefocus.com/nature/whats-the-best-way-to-get-wasps-to-go-away
      7. ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/homemade-wasp-trap/
      8. ↑ https://www.pesticide.org/yellowjackets
      9. ↑ https://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7450.html
      10. ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/homemade-wasp-trap/
      11. ↑ https://gardenerdy.com/homemade-wasp-traps-how-to-make-your-own-wasp-trap/
      12. ↑ https://www.thegardenglove.com/diy-wasp-solutions/

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To make a wasp trap, first find a 2-liter plastic bottle and cut the top off just below the neck. Then, turn the neck of the bottle upside down, and insert it into the bottom half of the bottle to create a funnel. Tape the cut edges of each half together. Next, pour water into the bottle until it’s about 1 inch (2.5 cm) below the bottom of the funnel, and add a few drops of dish soap. The dish soap will make it so the wasps can’t fly out of the water. If you’re making the trap in the spring, pour some meat grease into the bottle since wasps look for protein during the spring. If you’re putting the trap out in the summer, add vinegar and jam to the bottle since wasps will be attracted to sugar in the summer. Don’t use honey or you could end up attracting honey bees. Finally, place the trap outdoors and wait for it to fill with wasps. The bait will attract the wasps, and then they’ll get trapped when they fly down through the funnel. Once the trap is full, pour more soapy water down the funnel to make sure all of the wasps are stuck. Finally, seal the trap in a plastic bag and dispose of it in the trash. For tips from our reviewer on hanging your wasp trap, keep reading!

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