Bee safe wasp trap. How to make your own wasp trap for free

Wasp killed in trap

Wasps can be a pest, especially if you’re eating or drinking in the garden and the wasps want to join in.

You can make your own bee safe wasp trap without attracting and killing bees in the process.

Recycle plastic container.

An empty plastic container makes an excellent wasp trap

Cut the top off to make a funnel

Cut a plastic bottle and turn the funnel up-side-down so it fits inside the container.

This makes easy access for wasps to enter the narrow hole yet difficult to escape.

Sweet and sour attractant attracts wasps but not bees

Add a mixture of vinegar, sugar and salt.  The wasps are attracted to the sweet and sour scent yet bees don’t seem to be attracted by this sour mixture whereas a honey mix would be a fatal attractant.

Keep the wasp trap out of the rain as it will quickly fill with rainwater.

The down-side of this wasp trap is it also attracts and traps beneficial insects such as lacewing and hoverflies which are a natural pest control of aphids