If you have carpenter bees, also known as wood bees, then you are probably not a fan. Today I am going to tell you how to trap and kill carpenter bees as well as wasps, hornets and yellow jackets naturally.
First, let me just tell you…I’ve been battling these horrible flying dive bombers for years. Our backyard is surrounded by wood fences, and so we have wood bees. I’m so so glad that you can’t see me in action when they start buzzing around my head when I go out back. Let’s just say it includes an old tennis racket, a lot of smack talking and well…a few misses and some down right smack downs. I’m tired though, y’all. I kill one, then another comes to take its place. The good thing is that the males that are the ones that do the protecting and dive bombing don’t sting or I would be in a world of trouble, but they do make outdoor hanging and entertaining impossible. So…they must go. A reader explained to me that the queens that do the work and put the holes in the wood do sting, so beware of them ;)
Last week, my friend Jaque from The DIY Village posted a pic on Instagram of her new wood bee trap, and I knew I must have one for my own. I feel like I now have my own fighting pit for bees…let the entertainment begin!
***NOTE— Honey bees and other lovely bees are not attracted to these traps, so no harm will come to them. And…if you have a big issue with me killing these dive bombing bees, don’t even bother commenting. They are the worst, and must go.
See that hole right there? That’s where the wood bees enter this lovely trap.
To make this bee trap work for other stingers like wasps, hornets and yellow jackets, you just need to add a little sweet soda and 5 drops of dish liquid to the Mason Jar. Screw it onto the lid at the bottom of the trap and get ready to trap em up! Once you get a few in there and they have properly passed on, you can empty the jar by unscrewing it, then add your syrup again and catch some more…it’s the gift that keeps on giving ;)
This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase product using these links, I will be compensated a commission.
We hung ours near the spot where we constantly get dive bombed so that they will be attracted to it. We caught two within the first two days of hanging and hope to trap many more until they get the message! Looking for a Carpenter Bee Trap of your own? Find my favorite Carpenter Bee Trap HERE!
You can find even more Home Tips and Cleaning Tricks HERE!
I just wanted to add something…I had to research carpenter bees last year because they found our new cedar patio cover! What I found, carpenter bees (big black bees) are attracted to unpainted wood. (They don’t care how much you paid for upgrading to cedar!) But Jessica, I really hate to burst your bubble but the female carpenter bee DOES have a stinger! The male carpenter bee doesn’t have a stinger. But he works with the female as the security guard while she is drilling holes all over your beautiful cedar patio cover….er….anyway, you get the point. (oops, sorry for the pun). So Jessica, I hate to be the barer of bad news on your blog because I truly appreciate this information about the trap…plan to check into it. Have a bzzzzlessed summer!
Thanks so much for that information, Connie! I updated the post to let everyone know. Good grief those things can do some damage and are aggravating. I hope you can get rid of yours too!! Have a beautiful week! ~Jess
the male stingers was referring to Wasps, hornets, yellow jackets, NOT the male carpenter bees.
Just for your information- I have read articles about how they collect the wasps, & yellow jackets, & hornets. They
stun the bees, collect the females (the ones that sting and are dangerous to some people) and let the males go as they do not have the venom needed to make bee sting anti-venom.
They did say that in there article. The males hover but don’t sting the females do.
They will also bore holes into painted and stained wood new or old, unfortunately!
She said the female can sting.
I have a question, would there be anything to prevent Honey Bees to enter this unit and also die? We as many others in our area are Beekeepers trying to replenish the Honey Bees, would hate the idea that we are trying to save them and others are trapping them. Please tell me that for some reason Honeybees will not enter the trap.
Honey bees are not attracted the the trap, and won’t enter. I made sure before I purchased it. We love our honey bees and sure wouldn’t want any harm to come to them.
Honey bees WIlL get trapped if you use Honey as bait! Do NOT use honey as your sweetener!
Oh my goodness. When i first saw the picture i thought it was some kind of new easy peasy beehive, LOL.
Just Curious, The recipe you used, is that for The Carpenter bees too? It mentions that: To make this bee trap work for other stingers like wasps, hornets and yellow jackets, you just need to add a little sweet soda and 5 drops of dish liquid to the Mason Jar.
Is this what I use for the carpenter bees or just the wasps and things?
And can Dawn dish liquid be used rather the brand you explain here?
Thanks so much!
Hi, Michelle. The recipe will draw in the stingers, and the wood bees will still come to the trap, so it works for both. Hope this helps! ~Jess
I live in the Phoenix area. The carpenter bees did not bother us, I thought them rather jovial actually–until I found out they were destroying a very nice Brazilian Pepper Tree in my backyard which had to be removed. (Yes I know in Florida those trees are a pest to indigenous trees but in the desert–well with some watering they provide some nice shade.) I may well get on of traps for them and the other unwelcomed pests which will eventually be attracted to our house as we plant our desert “oasis.”
Enjoy your blog! Nicely written information.
I bet you will definitely take any shade you can get in the desert! I didn’t realizer how much they could destroy until I started doing some research on them. So terrible! Thanks for the kind words! ~Jess
Where would a wood bee be if a wood bee could be in wood? Sorry. Had to post that. It’s something a friend and I said one day when we were talking about wood bees in her barn. I also had them in my porch. I got pretty good with the fly swatter. I’m going to check this trap out for sure. Thanks for the information!
This gave me a good chuckle! Have a great day! ~Jess
Yeike’s Ineed this we have a wooden sunroom on back house & bee’s building in wood going write this down & put in my Pintrust thanks’ ,,,By way love,love this blog of yours’,,
Thanks so much for the sweet words! Hope it helps! ~Jess
I have the pesky tiny black ants around my kitchen sink every. Year at this time, please tell me how to get rid of them, vinegar does not work and I read on Pinterest that it would. Pleas help me!
Try this recipe for ant deterrent that I use…works like a charm! Peppermint Ant Spray
So I accidently left some confectioners sugar uncovered last late summer… And I mean a lot of confectioners sugar. It was in a heritage jar. So anyways. 2 months later my confectioners sugar turned into an ant colony. Dumped the whole thing outside away from the house and I haven’t seen an ant since. Don’t know why. I suppose I moved the colony.
The vinegar / water mix will erase the pherenome trail that other ants from their colony use to find more food. There are indoor baits that will slowly wipe out the whole colony. Sugar & baking soda look the same to them so they eat what they think is sugar & it explodes their stomachs. Other ants in the colony eat their bodies & ….. Search ‘Natural Ant killing recipes”
Dear Jessica;
First I have to comment that your ant killer solution (sugar, borax & water) works like a charm. I used it last year with immediate results. Two weeks ago they started to come back. I made more & within 24 hours NO MORE ANTS!
Now about wood bees, hornets, wasps, yellow jackets: I wish I had this when I bought my first house oh so many years ago. I had every infestation one could have. Paid hundreds of dollars for exterminators. The basement floor was a carpet of wood bees one day. What a nightmare!
I have had happy results with each and every one of your tips/tricks that I have used from your website. Thanks so much for all the great information that you provide. I look forward to each email.
Hi, Donna! I’m so glad the ant killing solution worked so well for you…it’s a lifesaver for sure. That’s awful about the carpenter bees…they are just bad news! I really appreciate your kind words and want to thank you for being a loyal reader! Let me know if you ever have any questions! Hugs ~ Jess
I must have missed something in the reading…..you only said to put the solution in the jar and then screw it
back on to the attached lid……but no where does it mention anything about putting holes in the lid so they get
to the solution. SO, I am assuming that one must put holes into the lid so the bees can get into the jar !!
Otherwise, they just go into the wooden box and come back out. What do you think ?
I was wondering the same thing
I have one similar to this one. The holes in mine are slanted a little more. This trap is great! I have reduced the number of carpenter bees that’s for sure. I get about 3 or 4 a day that go in. I didnt have to make any kind of “syrup” to attract them, they just go right in. I also sprayed my holes that they made in my deck with a store bought carpenter bee spray and the bees won’t go back in those holes.
Awesome…the more slanted the better I’m sure! The syrup isn’t for the wood bees, it’s there to attract wasps, hornets and yellow jackets so the trap can serve more than one purpose. I’ll have to look into the carpenter bee spray…thanks for the info! ~Jess
Why would a wood bee go in the hole when there is nice fresh wood to drill on the exterior (and interior). Why wouldn’t a queen wasp start a nest inside in a nice corner. Can they get back out the hole if they don’t drink the death drink? That is all :)
They are attracted to the structure. The liquid doesn’t have any poison in it, it’s there to attract wasps, hornets and yellow jackets. And they cannot get back out because of the angle of the hole in the wood. Hope this helps! ~Jess
Why can’t they come back out the holes? I don’t understand how it keeps them in!!
The angle of the holes doesn’t allow them to get back out. Hope this clears your question up! ~Jess
It’s because they fall into the jar and they can’t fly straight up to get back to the hole they fell from. They also can’t walk up the sides of the jar. The angle of the holes also doesn’t provide the light to guide them back to the holes. They just buzz around the bottom of the jar, where it’s lightest thinking that’s the way out. It takes sometimes 48 hours for them to finally die. These traps absolutely work!
When I lived in South Fl we built a wooden 2 story house with a wood deck on the second floor, the “wood bees” made a feast of it, we couldn’t use it at all. When I moved to Savannah GA 11 yrs ago I told the realtor I wanted 3 things for my new house, 1-NO WOOD, brick or stucco only
2-One story only
3-Must have some land
My problem is with wasps, I need to paint my ceiling blue on my front porch to keep away the wasps, they started building nests everywhere on my porch & I love sitting out there in my recliner and reading n relaxing.
We are among the group of carpenter bee haters! We live smack dab in the middle of 25 heavily wooded Tennessee acres. Those darn bees are making our eve’s look like swiss cheese! The traps work great, but you have to get them up there next to the eves. I hate to brag but we got many more bees than you did on the first day of hanging! And, we didn’t know to put “bait” in the jar. I’ll have to try that little trick. We got our traps at a local farmer’s market…for much less money…but we’ll worth the money!
Hi! We are swamped with carpenter bees and wasps and have been looking for a way to get rid of them. Could you tell me what you did to the mason jar top, I’m assuming you made a hole, but how large? Thanks
A 1 inch e will do the trick
What about bumble bees? They are on the decline in this country and should not be trapped as they are potent pollinators as are honey bees. And no, bumble bees are not the same as carpenter bees.
I have been confused lately about carpenter bees vs mason bees. Apparently mason bees are wonderful pollinators and live in pre-existing holes. Some people even make or buy special houses for them. I have a trap like yours and catch tons of bees. Carpenter bees destroyed my children’s swing set and have now moved on to my deck. Now I am worried that I am trapping helpful mason bees. How do we know the difference?!
Hello,
What size is the hole drilled into the boxes and mason jar lid?
If you can email me so I can be sure to get your answer it would be great as I would like my husband to build a box tonight as my daughters hives are getting raided by yellow jackets.
Mason jar lids are 2 pieces , a lid and a band, just leave the lid off , the band holds it to the jar.
I read the instructions a few times and for the syrup for the wasp and the jar do I need to put holes somewhere in the bottom of the house and the mason lid to get the yellow jackets and other bees in there?
The holes are already drilled in…all you have to do is add the syrup :)
What do I use to attract carpenter bees, just the wood trap? Is the a lure for them like the wasps?
We bought our trap at Lowe’s. No bait is needed to attract the carpenter bees. We caught two the first hour it was up.
I bought a carpenter bee trap, put no bait in it, and caught 6 my first week. The trick is to leave one dead bee in the trap when you empty it-they emit a hormone/smell that attract their friends. am going to try the sticky solution she mentions for wasps/hornets which I also hate and am allergic too. I checked my trap and there are no bumblebee/honey bees in there, just the destructive carpenter bees.
I use a badminton racket and have wonderful success. I found that when you hit the first one and place it some where close to where you want to swing at another one, others will come to it and BINGO, the score will go up quickly! I easily got 14 in a matter of 2 hours, and I wasn’t paying too close attention.
I’ve played this game since I was a kid. I have grandchildren now and they love the game as well. Grandma always knows the best things to do!
Jessica
You have an incorrect attitude and methodology for wood bees. These bees are a critical part of elementary boys’ entertainment! The correct methodology is described here.
1) Find some elementary age boys. At least two for the sake of competition, but a few more is even better.
2) provide each one with a wooden paddle about 6 inches wide and 14 inches long.
3) For an official competition with prizes there should probably be a scorekeeper (you), but we never really kept score..
4) This can occupy boys for hours (their moms will love you) plus it builds eye-hand coordination.
5) it increases knowledge and quick identification of bees. Bees with a white dot on their head have no stinger. Bees without a white dot get really po’ed and will come sting you.
Hope this gives you some ideas on how to keep boys out of trouble during the summer.
You can make the same thing with a wooden 2×2 & a freshly emptied 16 ounce pop bottle , I’ve found mountain dew bottles work the best .
Is there way to just have this trap just the wasps, hornets, and other less efficient pollinators like yellowjackets? As annoying as they can get, I have no personal qualms against the carpenters bees, and would like to protect them against my own trap. (I’m not gonna hassle you about that though! I just want to know if there’s a variant I can use that they won’t fall into)
Wasp are my enemy here in Colorado, and yes I too get all the talk about killing honeybees….i didn’t see a honeybee all summer…just these mangy wasp that are making nests everywhere…so I will look into your box a buy as many as I can…ive been bit and I’m tired of it. One thing I use is peppermint oil, dawn and water in a spray bottle..they hate it. But they will be back and I will be ready.
I found a much better way to deal with these buggers. I built traps similar to what you show here and yes they work but it took forever just to catch a few. What works far better I found out by accident. I noticed that they were never bothering my fence posts oh, my porch or portions of my shed. so then I remembered that I had treated these with tru-seal clear. So Just before last winter I treated my whole shed and the fence and the porch and have no problem with them on any of these. Now the only place I have problem is behind my gutters and I’m about to treat those with truseal today. The great thing about this is that not only am I not being bothered by them but they are great pollinators and I don’t have to kill them. They just go somewhere else I guess.
I like how you suggested hanging a bee trap up near the places you usually get bombed by bees. We have a little nook in our gutter that bees always build their hive in and that we have to call pest control on. Thanks for the tips on getting rid of bees and wasps.
Ouch! The traps are expensive.
Carpenter bees are pollinators and they’re not a threat you’re actually killing off an important pollinator.
I’m a beekeeper and I studied the lifecycle of carpenter bees Wasps hornets yes I agree. I think you should do more study on the Carpenter bee
I have also used the tennis rackets around my barn and cedar porch and I made myself a trap like this. Both of these methods are successful, but the best thing I have found is a product called Drione insecticide dust. Get a puffer and puff some in their holes and sit back and watch them die. I have seen over 15 bees come out of one hole. They just fall out. I get almost instant satisfaction and revenge.
My trsp has never caught a single carpenter bee and i have tons on my wood porch. Help.
We made a few of these last year and caught several with no bait at all. This year I caught one wasp but he was able to get back out…..still waiting for the borer bees to find them trap again…. our friends’s have used them in their barns this year and have caught several with no bait…these bees have really ate up their barns, I couldn’t believe the damage
they had done over the years…the one friend had probably 10 in his trap within a week ….these traps really work
I purchased these trap last year and they worked great. This year they are not attracting anything. Do you know how to lure the wood bees back in!