How to Make a DIY Wasp Trap

Making a homemade wasp trap is cost-effective, easy to assemble, and lets you manage troublesome wasps without harsh chemicals.

🧃 What You’ll Need

• Two-liter soda bottle (clear preferred)

• Sharp knife or scissors

• Permanent marker and ruler or rubber band (for guide)

• Tape or hot glue

• Olive oil or petroleum jelly (optional grease)

• Seasonal bait:

• Protein source (spring to early summer)

• Sweet liquid (late summer to early fall)

• String or wire (for hanging, optional)

🛠️ Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Prepare the Bottle

• Remove the label and rinse.

• Use a permanent marker to draw a cutting line just below the taper of the neck.

2. Cut Off the Top

• Carefully cut along the line with a sharp knife or scissors to separate the top third from the bottom two thirds.

3. Grease the Interior (Optional)

• Wipe a thin layer of olive oil or petroleum jelly inside the top half and around the bottle’s inner rim.

• This slippery barrier prevents wasps from crawling back out once inside.

4. Create the Funnel

• Invert the bottle’s top half and insert it into the bottom section, neck-first, forming a funnel entrance.

• Seal gaps with tape or hot glue.

5. Add the Bait

• Place your chosen bait into the bottom chamber:

• Spring/early summer: small pieces of lunch meat or raw hamburger (protein)

• Late summer/fall: sugar water, jam-diluted water, soda, or fruit juice (sweet)

6. Position the Trap

• Hang by wire or place on a flat surface away from high-traffic areas.

• Check and replace bait weekly or after heavy catches.

Seasonal Bait Comparison

Tips & Safety

• Use a clear bottle so you can monitor captures without opening.

• Add a few drops of dish soap to your bait mixture to drown wasps more quickly.

• Wear gloves when emptying the trap; seal the top with tape before disposal.

• Dispose of dead wasps in a sealed bag and rinse the trap before re-baiting.

By following these steps, you’ll have an effective, reusable wasp trap that blends simplicity with seasonal biology. For more pest-control DIYs, explore local extension services or specialized gardening sites.

🐝 Specialized Variations

• Beekeeping Basics - How to make a Wasp Trap - The Norfolk ... explains how to protect bee colonies from wasps using a similar trap.

• How to Make an Easy Wasp Trap DIY! Recycle water bottles! walks through a beginner-friendly version using household items.

• How to Build Paper Wasp Traps offers a more scientific approach with yeast-based bait and tips for nest removal.

• DIY wasp trap! features a quick and affordable trap ideal for springtime use.

Let me know if you want help designing a trap that blends into your garden or balcony aesthetic—I’ve got ideas for that too 🌿