How to Make a Trap for Yellow Jackets

By using a simple, environmentally safe trap to lure yellow jackets, you can limit their numbers without losing all your yellow jackets or other beneficial insects.

1. Add 1/2 cup water and 1/4 cup sugar to the soda bottle. Put the cap on the bottle and shake vigorously until the sugar dissolves. Add 1 cup vinegar to the solution and shake to mix well.



2. Add the banana peel to the bottle, so the decaying fruit draws yellow jackets. Add enough water to fill the bottle halfway. Put the lid back on the bottle.



3. Use the utility knife to cut a 3/4-inch square hole in the top portion of the bottle a few inches below the cap.



4. Sit the bottle on a level surface near the wasp hive and far from where you don't want them to be. If desired, use a string to hang the bottle in a tree near the hive. Dispose of the bottle when full.







Things You Will Need

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• 2-liter plastic bottle, with cap
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1 banana peel
• 4 cups water
• utility knife
• string, optional

Tip

Though other insects may be attracted to this solution, its odor is not sweet enough to attract honeybees.

Warning

Yellow jackets can be extremely aggressive if their nest is disturbed. A single colony can have nearly 5,000 wasps, so leave nest removal to professionals.