Create Your Own Yellow Jacket Trap: An Affordable Method to Secure Picnics and Outdoor Gatherings During Summer without Spending a Dime
In the realm of garden pests, yellowjackets are a common nuisance. These black and yellow striped insects, around 3⁄8 inch to 5⁄8 inch in length, can be bothersome due to their aggressive nature and painful stings. However, fear not, as there's a simple, cost-effective, and non-toxic solution to manage yellowjackets in your garden - a DIY trap.
Kathleen Walters, a former Park Ranger and current Content Editor, has successfully employed this method to control the yellowjacket population nesting under her raised garden bed. Here's how you can create your own.
Materials for the DIY Yellowjacket Trap:
- An empty 2-liter bottle
- 1 cup water
- ½ cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon grape jam or a splash of fruit juice
- ½ teaspoon liquid dish soap
- Twist ties and garden twine for assembly and hanging
- Hole punch or screw to make holes for hanging
Steps to Make a DIY Yellowjacket Trap:
- Cut the top 1/3 of the 2-liter bottle off.
- Invert the top into the bottom, creating a funnel.
- Pierce holes in the top and bottom edges.
- Mix the liquid ingredients and pour them into the bottom part of the bottle.
- Fasten the two parts together with the twist ties.
Placement and Maintenance:
Place the trap outside, away from the nest and away from where people gather, about 4 feet (1.2m.) above the ground. Regularly monitor and replace the lure liquid as needed to maintain trap effectiveness throughout yellowjacket season. Once the trap is full, wait until dawn or dusk to tie it in a bag and put it in the trash bin.
Additional Safety and Control Tips:
- Place traps away from your outdoor living areas to avoid attracting yellowjackets near people.
- Do not attempt to remove yellowjacket nests yourself; it risks severe stings and is best handled by professionals if nests are found.
- Complement trapping with garden maintenance such as sealing holes in the soil, cleaning outdoor eating areas, and avoiding leaving food or trash exposed.
- Use natural repellents near outdoor seating such as clove, geranium, and lemongrass essential oils, or plant deterrents that yellowjackets dislike but bees and beneficial insects like.
This DIY trap method is quick, inexpensive, and minimizes risk to humans, pets, and beneficial pollinators. By employing this method, you can help maintain a balanced ecosystem in your garden while keeping yellowjackets at bay.
[1] Walters, K. (2024). DIY Yellowjacket Trap: A Safe and Effective Solution. [Blog post]. Retrieved from https://www.gardenplatform.com/blog/diy-yellowjacket-trap
[2] National Park Service. (n.d.). Yellowjackets: What You Need to Know. [Webpage]. Retrieved from https://www.nps.gov/subjects/insects/yellowjackets.htm
[3] University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources. (n.d.). Yellowjackets: Identification and Management. [Webpage]. Retrieved from https://ucanr.edu/sites/PestNote/files/324166.pdf
[4] Mayo Clinic. (2021). Anaphylaxis. [Webpage]. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/anaphylaxis/symptoms-causes/syc-20374854
[5] Orkin. (n.d.). Yellowjacket Nest Removal: When to Call a Professional. [Webpage]. Retrieved from https://www.orkin.com/wasps/yellowjacket/yellowjacket-nest-removal
The DIY yellowjacket trap, as described by former Park Ranger and Content Editor Kathleen Walters, proves an effective and non-toxic method for managing these pests in a garden setting. Using everyday household items such as an empty 2-liter bottle, apple cider vinegar, grape jam, and liquid dish soap, gardeners can easily construct this trap to combat yellowjacket infestations in their home-and-garden lifestyle.
