Wasp trap

martin.henwood · Mar 23, 2015

The BBKA are offering supplies of the Vaso Wasp trap. And suggest it could be used around the apiary. Vaso suggest a honey water mix as bait.

Wouldn't this trap as many bees as wasps, rendering it unsuitable for the apiary?

wessexmario · Mar 23, 2015

it depends on the size of the insect you're trying to trap.

If the target robber is slightly bigger than the bee, then a entrance which will admit both, and an exit which is small enough to only allow the bee to escape, will selectively trap the target.

If the target robber is smaller than the bee, then an appropriately sized entrance will exclude bees from going in.

dexter's shed · Mar 23, 2015

as crazy as it sounds, bees don't seem interested in wasp attractants, I've always hung them close to the hive, never ever have I seen a bee go in

Erichalfbee · Mar 23, 2015

I used Waspbane to good effect in 2013 deployed as per the instructions in the beekeeping section of the website. Full of useful information so have a look. Inventor of said trap, Karol, posts here so if you do a search of his posts there is much lively discussion to peruse. I didn't need any traps last year; hardly a wasp to be seen.

martin.henwood · Mar 28, 2015

Erichalfbee said:
I didn't need any traps last year; hardly a wasp to be seen.

True. Very few wasps last year. But the year before I had a colony completely robbed out by the little stripy buggars.

Hawklord · Mar 28, 2015

I can't believe how many people have problems with wasps. Keep colony's big or reduce entrances to appropriate sizes. Even when I've had nests close to my apiary I've never had any problems. I really don't like killing things unnecessarily.

Erichalfbee · Mar 28, 2015

I had a look at Vita's Hornet floor at the WBKA convention today. It looks easy enough to copy and might just do the trick.

Karol · Mar 29, 2015

A little food for thought. If you get hornets and wasps mixing together the hornets will prey on those wasps because that's what they specialise in doing. The wasps will emit distress pheromones which will draw more wasps and more hornets to your hive. Moreover your bees will also be alerted to those pheromones and the close proximity of a significant number of wasps and hornets so you may find them in a constant state of agitation or aggression making them difficult to manage.