How To Make a Wasp Trap from a Soda Bottle
Wasps can be helpful little creatures- they’re to thank in part for keeping the pest population in check- but they can also be quite the nuisance. Picnics and other outdoor summer activities are a bit difficult to enjoy when wasps are swarming overhead, so try to keep things under control with a DIY wasp trap.
What You Need
Materials
- 2-liter soda bottle
- Honey or sugar water
Tools
- Utility knife
- Stapler or clothespins
Instructions
1. Carefully cut the bottle near the top where the curvature of the bottle just starts straightening out, as shown above. I used a piece of masking tape as a guide, but it’s pretty easy to eyeball if you don’t want to make bother.
2. Invert the top part of the bottle and insert it upside-down inside the bottom bowl. Secure in place with staples. You can also use clothespins if you plan to empty the bottle to re-locate the wasps after catching them.
3. Pour a little bit of honey or any other sugary substance down into the bottle to attract the wasps.
4. Place the bottle in close (but not too close!) proximity to outdoor dining areas or high traffic areas where you’ve been noticing wasps. They will be attracted by the sweet scent and will climb down inside the bottle but won’t have the same luck coming out. We don’t necessarily like promoting killing anything, so we suggest you try to re-locate the wasps and empty the trap daily.
Edited from an original post published on February 19th, 2008 by Gregory Han
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