Post by Idaho Linda on Sept 3, 2016 14:56:59 GMT -5
It appears that it is primarily the west that has serious yellowjacket problems in August and September. Here is how to make the ultimate weapon for the battle--reusable year-after-year with cheap bait.
It will also catch bald-faced black hornets. Just a simple box frame covered with window screen and a solid floor with a funnel from a yellowjacket trap cut into the floor and glued with hot glue. Yellowjackets are attracted to the color yellow.
The size isn't important. I just use grade stakes because they are cheap and pretty much the right size out-of-the package. There are 4 legs that have to be long enough to slip a partial can of cat food under the funnel--with enough space left over for the yellow jackets or hornets to get to the food. And, since these insects fly up to exit the food, they go towards the light into the trap. I use steel window screen. I am concerned they might chew through the easier-to-work-with nylon. Handles on top to carry the trap would be nice. I will probably add those. Maybe once a year you might want to be able to dump the trap. Nothing seems to attract yellowjackets as much as dead yellowjackets, so there is no need to clean it often. I think that one edge held down by thumbtacks instead of staples would be a great cleanout. The guys made this with velcto strips, then reinforced with push pins.
For bald-faced hornets, putting the funnel directly over fresh dog poop early in the year would be very effective. Later on, they are attracted to the cat food.
It will also catch bald-faced black hornets. Just a simple box frame covered with window screen and a solid floor with a funnel from a yellowjacket trap cut into the floor and glued with hot glue. Yellowjackets are attracted to the color yellow.
The size isn't important. I just use grade stakes because they are cheap and pretty much the right size out-of-the package. There are 4 legs that have to be long enough to slip a partial can of cat food under the funnel--with enough space left over for the yellow jackets or hornets to get to the food. And, since these insects fly up to exit the food, they go towards the light into the trap. I use steel window screen. I am concerned they might chew through the easier-to-work-with nylon. Handles on top to carry the trap would be nice. I will probably add those. Maybe once a year you might want to be able to dump the trap. Nothing seems to attract yellowjackets as much as dead yellowjackets, so there is no need to clean it often. I think that one edge held down by thumbtacks instead of staples would be a great cleanout. The guys made this with velcto strips, then reinforced with push pins.
For bald-faced hornets, putting the funnel directly over fresh dog poop early in the year would be very effective. Later on, they are attracted to the cat food.
We get so many each year and I buy can after can after can of hornet spray. We have a fountain in our front yard that splashes some onto rocks...so the hornets love to build nests near there. Even in the hollow area by our screen door 
He has built me quite a few things that are wonderful and he had no sort of blue prints. My bunny cage looks like furniture (he lives in the house) and it's double decker with a ramp...bunny loves it.