Bees play an important role in pollinating plants and crops but they can become a nuisance when their nests are located too close to your home. If you have issues with bees coming inside or swarming around your outdoor living spaces trapping them is an effective solution. This article will explain several easy methods for trapping bees outside to reduce their presence around your home.
Why Trap Bees Outside?
There are a few main reasons you may want to set up bee traps outdoors
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Prevent Bees from Entering Your Home – Bees nest in cavities like holes in walls, under eaves, and inside attics. Trapping bees outside helps reduce the number that can find their way indoors.
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Protect Outdoor Living Areas – You likely want to enjoy your patio, pool, or yard without constant buzzing and the threat of stings. Trapping bees makes these areas safer.
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Locate Hidden Nests – Observing where bees enter your traps helps identify locations of nests and hives so you can have them removed.
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Reduce Stings – Traps capture and contain bees so they don’t have the opportunity to sting you or your family members.
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Non-Toxic Pest Control – Bee traps allow you to reduce bee populations without the use of harsh chemical pesticides.
DIY Bee Traps You Can Make at Home
There are a variety of homemade bee traps you can put together using common household items. Here are two simple but effective options:
2-Liter Bottle Trap
This trap can be easily made using an empty 2-liter plastic soda bottle.
Supplies Needed:
- 2-Liter bottle
- Utility knife or scissors
- Cord or wire for hanging
- Honey, sugar water, or soda as bait
Instructions:
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Clean and dry an empty 2-liter bottle. Remove the cap.
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Using a utility knife or scissors, cut the top third of the bottle off just below where it starts to taper toward the neck.
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Flip the cut-off top upside down and place it inside the bottom portion of the bottle, creating a funnel. The tapered neck should face downward into the bottle.
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Use tape or staples to secure the top funnel portion in place.
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Make two small holes on opposite sides of the bottle near the cut edge. Thread cord or wire through to create a hanger.
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Add 2-3 tablespoons of honey, sugar water, or soda into the bottle as bait.
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Hang the trap outside in a sunny area near where bees are spotted.
Mason Jar Trap
This bee trap incorporates a glass mason jar which allows you to easily see how many bees get caught.
Supplies Needed:
- A small mason jar or recycled glass jar/bottle
- An 8-12 inch long 2×4 scrap wood board
- Wood screws
- Drill
- Honey, sugar water, or soda as bait
Instructions:
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Along the length of the 2×4 board, drill a 1⁄2 inch hole at a 45 degree downward angle, stopping before breaking through the bottom edge.
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On the bottom (unfinished) side of the board, drill a 1⁄2 inch hole halfway through the thickness of the board.
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The two holes should meet to create an angled entrance tunnel into the center of the board.
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Near the top angled edge, screw in a small eye screw. Thread string through this for hanging.
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Place bait in the bottom of the mason jar.
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Screw the threaded mason jar lid onto the bottom of the board, aligned over the 1⁄2 inch hole.
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Hang the trap outside close to areas where bees are spotted. Bees will enter through the angled hole and become trapped in the glass jar.
Bait Options to Attract Bees
The most effective bait to use in your bee traps is any sweet liquid. Bees are attracted to the sugary scent. Here are some options:
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Honey – Diluted with a bit of water so it flows easily.
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Sugar water – Mix 1 part sugar with 1 part hot water until dissolved.
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Soda – Flat, sugary soda like cola.
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Maple syrup – Diluted with water 1:1 ratio.
Use around 2-3 tablespoons of your diluted bait in each trap. Check and replace it every 2-4 days as needed. Keep the bait chamber fully filled in kill traps. For no-kill traps, just use a tiny bit of bait in the bottom to lure the bees in but not drown them.
Where to Place Bee Traps Outside
Location is key when trapping bees. Follow these tips:
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Observe bee activity and set traps near areas where they are spotted flying around.
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Focus on locations like eaves, vents, holes in walls, or openings around windows where bees may be entering your home.
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For carpenter bees, place traps right next to the small round bore holes they create.
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Hang traps in sunny spots around your home’s exterior where bees will be attracted to the warmth.
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Try different locations to see what works best. Move traps if catching declines.
Check your traps daily and relocate or kill trapped bees as preferred. Having multiple traps in different areas maximizes your results trapping bees outside. With some trial and error, you can find the ideal placements to control bees on your property.
When to Avoid Trapping Bees
While removing problem bee nests is usually recommended, there are certain times of year when trapping bees can do more harm than good:
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Spring: Trapping bees in early spring may remove important pollinators needed by blooming plants and crops.
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Winter: Bees are less active and their populations are naturally lower, reducing need for trapping.
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Swarming Season: Destroying bee swarms can interfere with natural reproduction and colony expansion.
During these seasons, focus on removing only nests that are directly causing issues around your home. Discontinue trapping when fewer bees are spotted. And consider relocating swarms rather than destroying them. With some extra care taken, homemade traps allow you to gain control over nuisance bees on your property when used properly.
Step 3: Prepare Mason Jar
Next, youll want to get your mason jar.
You don’t have to do this next step, but I did it anyway: I put some sugar in my trap. I don’t know if carpenters are really into this kind of thing, but they are bees, right? Now, I say this is optional because carpenter bees are known to be drawn to the trap itself, and adding the liquid makes it a death sentence for them.
If you decide to not use any sugar/liquid, you can trap the bees and release them somewhere else.
Step 2: Drill Entrance Holes
Drill more 1/2-inch holes about an inch from the bottom of the wood. This time, however, make them at an angle that meets the main hole near the end.
I got all of my shots right on the first try, so it’s actually a lot easier than it sounds.
Do this step on all 4 sides of the 4×4 so there are multiple entrances for the bees.
How to Make a Bee Trap
FAQ
What is the fastest way to get rid of bees outside?
How to trap bees in a container?
Choose a cover for your container. You can use a wide variety of materials to cover the container which you have trapped the bee beneath. When trapping bees with a bowl, you could use a folded newspaper, a full sheet of thick paper, or a manila envelope. When trapping bees within a cup, you could use a notecard or magazine.
How do you attract bees indoors?
Position your traps near bee access points. Placing your traps too close to bee access points may actually draw more indoors. Prioritize locations in the sun. Sunlight will make the bait more effective and also cause bees to die in the trap faster. Hanging traps tend to attract bees better than ground traps.
How do you kill bees in a trap?
Poison bees with laundry soap. To ensure bees that enter your trap don’t make it out alive, add a tablespoon (15 ml) of liquid laundry soap to your bait. Distribute the soap throughout the bait by stirring it with a utensil. The soap will poison and kill all bees that ingest it.
How do you keep bees out of your home?
In addition to opening your windows, opening any doors to the outside and keep them propped open. The bee inside your home is going to be constantly looking for a way back to its hive and any flowers nearby. With your windows and doors open, this makes it much easier for the bee to find its way.
How do you keep a bee out of a container?
With the bee trapped inside your container, you need to grab a cover for it. If you’re using a bowl, an envelope, a piece of thick paper, or folded newspaper make effective covers. If you’re using a cup, opt for a magazine or notecard. Regardless of what you choose, you want the cover to be somewhat thin.
Why do bees occupy a trap?
Problem: Sometimes bees may initially occupy a trap but then abandon it. Solution: This can happen if the inside of the trap becomes too hot or if there are disturbances. Ensure your traps are shaded and stable. Minimize disturbances by checking the traps infrequently and quietly.