Wasp Trap DIY.

Wasp trap, My Story. 

This wasp trap and fly trap will be on your next list when packing a cooler or reaching for the suntan lotion.    

 

How it started

In early August this past summer 2023, I was in the back yard working on a piece of furniture when I was stung by a wasp. I am from Windsor, Southern Ontario in Canada and the wasps and flies are always around in the warm weather trying to get into drinks or food. My buddy suggested we just do the DIY style and ended up purchasing a large bottle of soda to use as seen online. This did draw minor attention away from us however after having to empty the contents of the bottle and all the work to get the lid to stay in place it was pretty ugly. Not something i would want to have in view of my guests or family when they come over for BBQ's or parties. The size was overkill and if there wasn't enough liquid or it was too windy it would blow over.

I went to the local hardware store and did find many alternatives. I did a search on Amazon and Google. What I came across was, lots of bright yellow or orange traps in different shapes and sizes that were to be HUNG from a post or tree branch. All seemed to again be in plan view and colours that screamed "LOOK at ME" with bags of dead bugs for people's focus to be on instead of your company. Many had bags that needed to be replaced. Some were just scary props to try and scare the wasps away but all were in need of hanging, an eye soar or both.

The start of our R&D

 I started to question and challenge all of the norms.

  • why do they need to be yellow or other bright colours
  • why work so hard to put them up high
  • why is there the desire for being disposable with added cost and waste
  • why would you want it in sight and share a view of dead bugs

I started off with the thought of trying to draw them into something more attractive. A container that may fit into something more pleasant to look at was my idea. My thoughts were maybe a pot or a Nome or some other common item that may be a regular decoration on a property. 

This was a bird house i was originally going to attempt to hide a trap in. Note the DIY  red soda bottle trap in the back.

This started me focusing on the design and function of the actual trap.

  • #1 What size opening would they travel through? 
  • #2 How far would they travel to enter the trap? 
  • #3 How would they be kept inside if they entered? 
  • #4 What colours would work the best and would they have to be bright? 
  • #5 Can the sun or the shade make a difference?
  • #6 Do high traffic areas affect anything?
  • #7 Will they be interested in entering them on the ground, under a bush, behind a rock or at the base of a tree?
  • #8 What is the best way to attract them?

Google has a lot of answers if you search these questions. I challenged them all and can say that the computer is not always correct.

For questions 1 - 3 

 I made as many variations of what my imagination would allow. I tested each one against each other over different locations all in 24 hour periods. As i recognized better results to some I would drop the least productive ones off trials and alter the best performers slightly and redo the  experiment.  

Questions 4-7

Now I know I can get them in the trap and they will stay there. I used orange juice in the beginning and kept that constant to reduce that variable at this time. My next focus was colour and location. I made 24 traps all the same from the best results from my design challenge. I used 9 colours on 12  and left the other 12 translucent. I paired a colour with a translucent and placed them all over the property. In flower pots, base of a tree, in a tree,  under a bush, on top a window sill, beside a garbage, beside the central air unit, behind rocks, ect.

This experiment was not only done in residential properties but repeated on 9 acre commercial property again.
This is an example of one set in position during colour trials.
This picture shows a Compact size trap dressed in Black on the right that was placed next to one that was left transparent.

The results were pretty interesting. Colour in fact played no part as a preference to wasps and I caught about as many flies. This opened the idea for the use of Drabb traps in kitchens and restaurants also. The location high or low also was not a factor. My findings suggest they are just scavengers looking for food and will go where they smell it and the design of the trap will keep them there. 

"Come and Get It" 

My bait

As i have mentioned, I started with orange juice as my bait. I believe that is what I was drinking at the time this all started. I experimented with other beverages as well and found that almost anything with a high sugar content worked pretty good. 

I began trials of my own custom mixes and came up with an effective solution that is odourless and non toxic. Safe around children and pets. I have packaged it two separate sizes that each fit perfectly to the two specific size of traps selected. 

**Note- through all my trials in R&D of design, colours, locations and baits I have never captured one honey Bee. I know how beneficial these are to our environment and this is worth stating.

Drabb

I chose the name Drabb as it means lacking brightness or interest; drearily dull and going with the theme of clean and discrete I believe it fits.

I made two sizes. I named the larger one "The Solution" pictured below. It is great for longer duration left alone with a larger fill capacity and doesn't require hanging. Just place it out of the way, out of sight when outside and enjoy your gathering.  I made a smaller version I call "The Compact". This one hides nicely in planters, smaller surfaces like patio end tables(or under) and is perfect for kitchens or restaurants where it can be tucked beside a microwave or on top of a fridge. No more nasty fly paper or electric zappers for your guests to cringe at while eating. 

The Solution

The Compact tucks away wherever you want it. No replacing sticky pads. Just open the lid dump out and refill with bait and replace.

Above are the Solution and Compact side by side.

Above are a couple pictures of the Compact on a counter and microwave for ideas of size and ability to blend in.

Drabb Colours

These are the flat earth tones I have begun with. They seem to blend in almost everywhere. I understand that many people will have more colourful properties or interior designs that may not quite hide as well. For this reason I am offering an option for a custom colour to anyone that contacts me for the request. I am hoping that this will also assist me for future production and understanding common desires of customers.

Feed back and uses

Now never mind my passion and biases, time for others to critique

I brought them to Bars with patios, old age homes, fairs, the farmer market and to other families that enjoy spending a lot of time outside. I also posted them on Facebook Market Place and generated sales. I gave them a survey requesting feedback on what they thought of the appearance, how user friendly it was, suggestions for improvements and asked for any other comments.

The surveys I got back were constructive and showed opportunities for some improvements that we implemented in our product before our season had ended and were able to prove them out. Because of the size, ease of use and durability we also received a lot more ideas for ways they could and would be using their Drabb traps.

  • one mentioned taking it to their trailer
  • bringing it to baseball practices
  • have one at the boat
  • placing it in the kitchen for the flies
  • take it to the beach or picnic 
  • packing it up to go camping
  • having one next to them while fishing

These traps can be on the same list you make as packing sun tan lotion or filling the cooler. If you believe in this product please share with anyone afraid of being stung or just enjoys the outdoors.