Best wasp and hornet traps 2021
Hornets and wasps do not go out of their way to be wicked, but they will attack if they feel threatened. Constantly on the scrounge, they will happily take over your home and backyard by building wasp and hornet nests, in order to be close to constant food supplies and shelter.
When wasps and hornets become burdensome you should consider setting a trap. A safe yet effective solution, wasp and hornet traps offer protection around your home to help control these bothersome buzzers with most traps being non-toxic too.
What are the best wasp and hornet traps available to buy in 2021?
- Best reusable trap – Aspectek HR197
- Best disposable trap – RESCUE Non-Toxic Yellowjacket Trap
- Best sticky trap for wasps and hornets – RESCUE Non-Toxic Trapstik
It is important that you identify the type of wasp or hornet that is attacking your property as not all wasps are considered pests. There are tens of thousands of known species of wasps but it's the social species, such as the yellow jacket wasp, paper wasp, mud daubers and hornet, which tend to be the most hostile and can emit a particularly painful sting. See my guide on the different types of wasps and hornets found in America for full clarification.
Do wasp and hornet traps really work?
There are many professionally made (just to below reviews) wasp traps available to buy on the market that are effective, and there are also those which you can make yourself. Wasp and hornet traps work by having some sort of scent that attracts the wasp to enter. Once inside, the wasps or hornets die, leaving you to simply empty or replace the trap when it's necessary to do so.
What is the best thing to put in a wasp or hornet trap?
Every trap uses a barrel or a receptacle to catch the wasps or hornets as well as a liquid, commonly referred to as an attractant or lure.
Depending on the time of year, different types of lures are required. If the wasp is trying to feed its young, it's likely to be looking for protein-rich meats or fats. If it's feeding itself, it will crave sweet tasting lures like nectar. Just to make the matter even more confusing, different wasps often have different preferences at different times of the year.
The best bait for wasp and hornet traps?
Professional wasp and hornet traps can contain multiple types of attractants for different species of wasp and are therefore, often more effective than homemade solutions. They also don't smell as strongly as D-I-Y solutions do, so prevent your trap from filling with flies.
If you know that you are dealing with the commonly found yellow-jacket wasp and it is spring, then meat-based lures are most effective however, if you are heading into summer then we would strongly advise apple juice as a form of nectar. Vinegar is also a prime bait for this species and has the added advantage of deterring honeybees from getting trapped.
Where to hang wasp and hornet traps?
You can set up wasp traps during any season if you sense there may be a wasp or hornet problem. If, however, you want to take preventative measures, why not put up a wasp trap in spring, and eliminate any queens who might be looking for a place to build a nest?
Outdoor wasp traps
The majority of the time, wasps and hornets tend to be a nuisance outdoors, building nests under porches or within your backyard. Therefore, you should select locations which are near current wasp hotspots, whilst making sure they well away from adults, children and pets. Some wasp traps, such as sticky traps, can be placed directly over or under your patio furniture or around your backyard without any worries whilst others, may need to be positioned up to 20-30 feet away.
Other areas to hang wasp and hornet traps include next to garbage bins, which tend to smell during the summer months attracting more pests to the area. Also, if you have a pond or a pool, hang a few traps nearby, as wasps tend to be attracted to standing water.
Ideally a wasp trap should be suspended from trees and situated downwind of the area you are targeting. That way any prevailing breeze can waft the scent towards the nest and attract any scouting wasps or hornets.
If, however, you discover a nest underground, then you are probably dealing with mud dauber wasps and you should look to hang any traps directly above the nest itself.
It is also important to note that any traps used outdoors need to be waterproof as they may need to be utilized throughout the seasons in order to be most effective.
Indoor wasp traps
If you spot wasps or hornets inside your home, then you must take action immediately. Wasps tend to enter your property through basements or attics and it is important that you do not try and tackle a nest removal yourself but seek professional help. You should also make note of their entry and exit points, filling in gaps and placing sticky traps in specific areas of interest.
Best wasp and hornet trap reviews
There are a number of wasp and hornet traps available to buy with each type working in a slightly different way. Below we highlight the best of the best and explain the differences between them.
Reusable wasp and hornet traps
Most reusable wasp traps consist of a cylindrical, clear exterior and have some sort of funnel-like entrance point for the wasp to wander inside. Enticed by lure, the wasps enter the trap where they become imprisoned and eventually die off.
A reusable trap is often the most cost-effective type of wasp trap as it can be emptied, cleaned and the lure replaced time after time so that they it be reused again if a problem occurs.
- BEST DEAL PACK: 2-pack of proven-effective wasp traps
- Effective: catches wasps, hornets and Yellow jackets around your property
- FOOD BASED LURE: Traps lure insect inside with an irresistible mixture of water & sugar
- VERY EASY TO ASSEMBLY: Recipe description included in the manual
- LIGHT AND DURABLE: Crafted of plastic material with an 18″ nylon cord for hanging
Last update on 2023-02-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Best reusable trap for wasps and hornets – Aspectek HR197
The Aspectek trap is effective for catching wasps, hornets, and yellow jackets around your property and is affordable and easy to use. Its clever pear-shaped design has multiple entry points which are formed like funnels, allowing wasps easy access in, but no exit out.
The lure supplied mimics the scent of nectar so instantly attracts the attention of wasps and hornets. Once inside the trap they either drown in the sweet-scented liquid or starve to death within a matter of days.
Reusable and sturdy this waterproof wasp trap will see you through the seasons and can be purchased as a multipack.
Disposable wasp and hornet traps
Disposable wasp traps tend to be made out of a thick plastic bag and work in the same way as reusable traps. Inside lies the lure, which having attracted the wasp or hornet through a funnel-style entrance, keeps it there until it dies.
The best thing about disposable wasp and hornet traps, is that you don't have to empty them you simply have to take them down and throw them away. And although they may not be as environmentally friendly as reusable wasp traps, they do eliminate the worry of dealing with any remaining live wasps that may be trapped and angry inside.
- Targets Yellowjackets – Lured in by our specially formulated attractant, yellowjackets fly in through the holes in the bottom of the trap and become trapped. Once inside, they die from dehydration.
- Attracts Multiple Species – This trap lures roughly a dozen species of stinging yellow jackets found in North America. (Please note: this trap only targets yellowjackets; it will not catch wasps or hornets).
- Reusable – Durable plastic construction is built to withstand many seasons of use. The included attractant lasts for weeks without daily maintenance. Additional attractant refills are available (sold separately).
- Won’t Attract Honeybees – Our Reusable Yellowjacket Trap is specially designed to attract and kill yellowjackets, not beneficial honeybees.
- Made in the USA – At RESCUE!, our goal is to design and manufacture the safest and most effective pest control solutions available. We proudly manufacture our products in the USA!
Last update on 2023-02-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Best disposable trap for wasps and hornets Rescue Non-Toxic Yellowjacket Trap
What we particularly like about this wasp trap is that the lure is formulated depending on where in the USA you reside, and the type of yellowjacket typical to that region. Thus, making it even more effective, providing you order the correct one! And, if you live in Western US, there is even a disposable trap specifically designed for catching hornets.
Simple and easy to use, all you need to do is fill the disposable bag with water which then effortlessly mixes with the lure. Attracting yellowjackets from near and far, once the wasps are inside the disposable bag, they meet their fate through drowning.
As this bag is see-through it is easy to see how many wasps you have trapped and once full, you can cap it off and place it in the trash.
Sticky wasp and hornet traps
These traps do exactly as they suggest, they entrap wasps through sticking them to the trap itself. Whilst these traps are highly effective, one major downfall is that the sticky strip can often cause innocent animals such as birds and bats to get attached so make sure you look out for the bird proofed versions when available.
- ELIMINATE WASPS – Our exclusive VisiLure technology lures wasps, red wasps, mud daubers, and carpenter bees with appealing colors and a multi-dimensional pattern. Once attracted, they become stuck to the sticky surface and expire.
- NO KILLING AGENT – The targeted insects are naturally lured to the trap without odors, chemicals, or wasp sprays. It catches queens and workers, from spring through fall.
- PROTECT WILDLIFE – This TrapStik has been redesigned with bird guards to provide protection for birds, bats, and other small animals. Avoid hanging where birds or other wildlife activity happens.
- PREVENT DAMAGE – Mud daubers (mud wasps, dirt daubers) and carpenter bees can cause serious property damage. Our TrapStik can stop this before it starts, without the use of potentially harmful sprays or chemicals.
- MADE IN THE USA – At RESCUE!, our goal is to design, manufacture, and market the safest and most effective pest control solutions available for homeowners. We are proud to manufacture our products in the USA!
Last update on 2023-02-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Best sticky trap for wasps and hornets RESCUE Non-Toxic Trapstik
This sticky trap is one of the safer choices, as it comes with a plastic guard rail on either side to prevent larger animals such as birds from getting caught. Whilst there is no aromatic lure to this trap, its colorful patterns and colors draw the wasps and insects in, catching anything that dares to fly past.
This type of trap will need replacing once the sticky strip has been coated with wasps, so is not considered as cost-effective as some of the others already listed.
How to make a DIY homemade wasp trap
If you are on a budget or enjoy being crafty, then making your own trap for wasps like yellow jackets is relatively simple to do – providing you have some old soda bottles. Simply cut off the top of the bottle and place it upside down inside, safely securing it with tape. By doing this, you have created a funnel for the wasps to enter. And don't forget to add some string to the sides to enable you to hang it from nearby trees.
For the lure, depending on the time of year, add meat during the spring and fruit juice with vinegar over the summer months and place it securely inside through the funnel. Make sure you remember to top up the bottle with water in order to drown the wasps once inside. Elevate the bottle and simply sit back and wait, you'll be catching yellow jackets in no time!
Conclusion
Wasps and hornets are not only a nuisance, but they can produce a painful sting if antagonized further. Traps are great for keeping these insects at bay and offer a non-toxic solution which is safe to use around children and pets whilst being harmless to the environment.
But rather than using traps as a remedy, why not use them as a preventative method and stop wasps from ruling your backyard this year? Other precautions you should take to avoid wasps from nesting in your area include:
- keeping your garbage cans shut at all times
- ensuring that all food and drink remains covered
- wiping up sticky spills as soon as they occur
- picking fruit from trees as soon as they are ripe
- covering over ponds, pools, and free-standing water
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