How to Make a Yellow Jacket Trap That Works

Yellow jackets are quite a bit more aggressive than your average wasp—they can sting multiple times, so they aren’t a pest you want circling your home, yard, or patio.

As they forage for food, they are attracted to sugary fruits and beverages, becoming a potentially harmful nuisance. If you’re dealing with an invasion, it’s best to call a pest professional. But if you spotted a few that won’t leave your deck or patio alone, then a DIY trap could be the answer.

Learn how to make a DIY trap to help get rid of yellow jackets and save you from distress this summer.

What Are Yellow Jackets?

Yellow jackets are predatory, 1 1/2 inch long wasps with alternating black and yellow bands on the abdomen that live throughout North America. They swarm most prominently in summer and fall.

Are Yellow Jackets Beneficial Insects?

Yellow jackets are beneficial predators around home gardens in the spring because they feed on caterpillars, harmful flies, and nectar from plants. But in late summer, when food supplies dwindle, they turn to sugar-filled food sources enjoyed at picnics and become a real nuisance.

This is when an outdoor trap becomes helpful, so you can enjoy outdoor activities.

Materials You’ll Need to Make a Trap

• A 2-liter soft drink bottle
• Measuring spoons and cups
• Utility knife or scissors
• 1 teaspoon of dish soap
• 1 cup of water
• 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar or fruit juice
• Paper hole punch
• Two or three twist ties
• Thin cord or wire (optional)

How to Make a Yellow Jacket Trap

1. Prepare the soft drink bottle. Use scissors or a utility knife to cut off the top of a 2-liter plastic bottle just before the shoulder of the bottle. You will have two pieces, one of which looks like a funnel.
2. Add the bait solution. Pour 1 cup of water into the bottom of the bottle. Add 1 teaspoon of dish soap and 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar or fruit juice. The sweetness of the cider vinegar or fruit juice attracts the wasps, and the dishwashing liquid breaks the surface tension of the water.
3. Assemble the trap. Once the solution is ready, insert the neck of the bottle into the base to create a funnel. Use a paper hole punch to make two or three evenly spaced holes along the top edge. Use twist ties to secure the funnel in place.
4. Hang the trap outside. If you want to hang the trap, add a sturdy cord or a piece of wire in two of the punched holes to create a hanger.
5. Select a location for the trap. Hang or place the trap at least 20 feet from porches, picnic tables, or playgrounds. It should be at least 4 feet above the ground. Yellow jackets like warm temperatures around 85°F, so adjust the locations for sun and shade.
6. Maintain the trap. Depending on how many yellow jackets are around, the trap can fill quickly. It is important to empty it frequently of dead wasps, or it will stop working. Too many carcasses allow the yellow jackets to escape rather than drown. Make sure all of the wasps are dead, and empty the trap at night when the wasps are less active. Refill with fresh bait solution and rehang the trap.

How to Attract More Yellow Jackets

To get more yellow jackets interested in the trap, spread a little jelly or syrup around the entrance to the funnel. That will draw the wasps into the trap.

Additional Tips to Keep Yellow Jackets Away

• Keep any outdoor foods covered and wash hard surfaces like picnic tables and patios after serving food to remove any traces.
• Gather and dispose of fallen fruits and vegetables that will attract the wasps.
• Keep garbage bins covered and clean them frequently to remove sticky foods.
• Avoid floral perfumes, hairsprays, and bright flowery clothing when going outdoors because they can attract wasps. 
• Use insecticides to control underground and above-ground nests.
• If you squash a yellow jacket, clean the area immediately. They release a pheromone that brings other yellow jackets to the location.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do yellow jackets like apple cider vinegar?

Yellow jackets are attracted to the sweet, fruity smell of the apples in the cider vinegar. It is a good addition to the water and dishwashing liquid solution in the DIY trap.

What is the best bait for yellow jacket traps?

Yellow jackets are attracted to sugary foods, so add sugar, syrup, jelly, soft drinks, or fruity vinegar to the water and dishwashing liquid solution. Some DIYers swear that adding a small piece of processed luncheon meat like bologna to the trap will attract more wasps.

Can I use wine or beer in the yellow jacket trap?

Yes, yellow jackets are attracted to fermented drinks, like beer and wine. Anecdotally, yellow jackets prefer the sweetness of red wine, but experiment to see which works best for you.