How it works - Wasp traps

If you have a few wasps getting inside, you can make a simple trap with a plastic bottle. 🐝

You’ll need:

• A 1–2 L plastic bottle
• About 1 cup of sweet liquid — fruit juice, soda, or sugar water
• 1–2 teaspoons of dish soap
• Scissors or a utility knife

Cut the top third of the bottle off. Pour the sweet liquid into the bottom section and add the dish soap. Turn the bottle top upside down so the neck points downward into the liquid, creating a funnel, and secure it with tape.

Place the trap near the area where the wasps are entering, but not directly beside people or food. The sweet smell attracts them; the soap breaks the surface tension so they are less likely to escape.

For an especially effective bait, late summer wasps are often attracted to sugary drinks and fruit, while earlier in the season they may be more interested in protein.

One important point: if you're seeing a steady stream of wasps indoors, particularly coming from a wall, ceiling, attic, soffit, or vent, you may have a nest inside or immediately outside the building. A homemade trap will catch individual wasps but won't eliminate the nest. In that situation, it's safer to have the nest assessed rather than disturbing it yourself.

Also, don't put your hand near a wasp trap once it has accumulated insects—wasps can remain capable of stinging even after appearing inactive.

Source: Some or all of the content was generated using an AI language model