Carpenter bees can be bothersome when they drill into wood for nests. But, you can make a trap to control them. This trap only requires a few materials and half an hour to make. It will safeguard your home from their damages.
For this project, you need a 4×4 cedar or pine post, a mason jar, and a wide plank of wood. You also need a 15/16 inch drill bit, nails, an eye hook screw, and chain or wire. These will be used to hang the trap.
First, drill a 15/16 inch hole in the middle of the post. It should be about 5 inches deep. Next, use a 3/4 inch drill bit to make holes on the post’s sides. These holes are about 2 1/2 inches from the end. They will be the bees’ entrance.
Key Takeaways:
- Carpenter bees can be controlled by making a DIY trap using a 4×4 wood post and a mason jar.
- The trap should have holes drilled through the post to create a tunnel system for the carpenter bees.
- The mason jar should be attached to the bottom of the post to collect the trapped bees.
- DIY traps lack certain features found in professionally-made traps, but they can still be effective.
- Professional traps, like the Best Bee Brothers traps, offer a satisfaction guarantee for catching carpenter bees.
Supplies Needed for Making a Carpenter Bee Trap
Creating a carpenter bee trap is easy and works well against these insects. To start, gather these supplies:
- Mason jar: A pint-sized jar with a lid is perfect for holding the bees.
- 4×4 piece of wood: Pick a 7-inch piece of 4×4 wood. It’s your trap’s base.
- Screws: You’ll use screws to put the trap together tightly.
- Wire for hanging: Get some wire or a hook to hang the trap where bees are.
- Optional: You might want to use sugar to lure the bees into the trap.
You can find these items easily, either at a local store or online. Once you have everything, making a trap is quick.
Step-by-Step Instructions to Make a Carpenter Bee Trap
To fight carpenter bee numbers and keep your house safe, make a carpenter bee trap following these steps:
- Start by cutting the wood for the trap. You’ll want a 4×4 cedar or pine post and a 6” wide plank from it.
- Decide how tall the post should be for the trap – between 5” and 8” will work.
- With a 1/2” drill bit, make a hole in the 4×4 post’s center. This is the main trap hole.
- Next, drill four more 1/2” holes on the post’s sides. Do this at a 45-degree angle that meets the main hole. These extra holes lure the bees in.
- Attach the plank to the top of the post using two nails. It should hang over the sides by 1”.
- Now, prep a mason jar. Drill a 3/4” hole in its lid, to fit the trap’s central hole.
- For the best fit, choose a small mason jar that sits well under the trap’s base.
- Finally, place the trap where you see lots of carpenter bee activity. Or you can put it in a flower pot by a window.
This DIY trap lures carpenter bees because they’re attracted to softwood. The trap is so popular that all available traps sell out in three hours after launch. They had to make 100 within 12 hours to keep up. If you think about buying a trap instead, check out Best Bee Brothers’ traps. They have unique features like one-piece containers and holes to manage moisture and spread scents. Plus, the company guarantees you’ll be happy with your purchase.
Be sure to check the trap often and take out any bees it catches. If bees get out, close the extra holes with steel wool until it catches them all. This method is good for the environment and much better than using dangerous chemicals to kill bees. Use this trap and fix any holes in wooden parts of your house to keep carpenter bees away and your home safe.
Alternative Carpenter Bee Trap Plans and Tips
If making your own trap is not for you, there are other options. You can buy carpenter bee traps ready-made. These are found online or in stores. They catch carpenter bees well, helping with bee nest removal.
To keep carpenter bees away, try using paper bags. Hang them where you don’t want bees; they’ll think other bees are around and leave. Also, sonic devices placed nearby can scare them off with sharp sounds.
Regular checking and sealing of holes in wood is important. This keeps the bees from finding places to nest in your home.
If bees are already nesting, it’s best to remove their nests. This action can stop more bees from coming, by making your place less appealing.
Use these tips and traps to protect your wood from carpenter bees. They can help in controlling bee numbers around your property.
Conclusion
Creating your own carpenter bee traps is not just cost-effective; it’s also good for the planet. These traps help take care of carpenter bees that bother homeowners. They damage wooden buildings and outdoor furniture. By catching and getting rid of adult bees, you lower their numbers.
Carpenter bee traps are better than traditional control methods in many ways. They are cheap and don’t need you to buy any special gear or use harmful chemicals. These traps are simple to set up and look after, which is great news for you.
The traps are made of wood with holes that bees can go into but not come out of. This design traps the bees so you can get rid of them.
For these traps to work best, put them where bees like to go, for example, under house eaves. You should also check them often and remove any bees caught inside to stop other pests from coming around. If you close up any old bee holes, you’ll get rid of more bees and their young.
By using carpenter bee traps, you can keep your home bee-free and safe. BeesNThings has traps that work from 5 to 15 feet away, which cost $23.99 each. This is an easy and dependable way to handle carpenter bee problems. You can buy these traps at stores like Home Depot, Lowes, and Tractor Supply Co. and safeguard your home today.