Wasp traps - how far away?

[RosieMc]

Does anyone have any advice as to how far away from a hive wasp traps should be situated? Does it make any difference as to how high/low they should be?

I would not want to put a trap too near a hive as it could attract wasps to the hive, rather than the trap. There again, not too far away so that the wasps think that there are TWO sources of food available.

There are only very few wasps about in my garden near Preston at the moment, but - dib-dib, I like to be prepared! Those few wasps will go and tell their mates.

Thank you are any hints.

 

[hedgerow pete]

mine start at 8 foot at the nearest hive and are spread out around the allotment fencing too

 

[Bead]

Rosie, I use 2 types. I put the large ones (inverted glass domes)about 100 feet away in amongst the fruit trees. I also use jam jars with a hole in the lid and a mix of vinegar, water and jam right next to the hive, as suggested by experienced beek. Bees don't seem to be interested in them, but they catch plenty of wasps - even more so when there are a few dead ones in there already. I don't think they actually attract wasps to the hive - I only put them there when I notice wasps trying to get into the hive

 

[RosieMc]

Thanks for your replies - I will try both. I just did not want to attract even more wasps to the hives. I guess it's which one smells the strongest.

 

[Midland Beek]

Does it not bother people killing such large numbers of such interesting creatures that we share this planet with?

Get wasp trouble and it is never the fault of the wasps.

 

[hedgerow pete]

sorry midland beek, but i have to admit that i have a total kill policy for any of the below

wasps
rats
rabbts
mink
hornets
slugs
pigeons
magpies
foxes
grey squirrels near red squirrel areas,
(but i do think grey squirrels in the city where i live adds to the park life fun,)

theres a few more but since i dont live where they are they are off the list for now

 

[Steve Dyer]

I would not want to put a trap too near a hive as it could attract wasps to the hive, rather than the trap. There again, not too far away so that the wasps think that there are TWO sources of food available.

Hi Rosie,
I have a different take on this.
If wasps are raiding your hive, then putting a wasp trap, that smells better to them than a hive, surely diverts some of the raiding wasps to the trap. They never return home to spread the message about your hives.

If the trap just kills a passing wasp then it doesn't get back either, so the trap won't attract more wasps to the hive through that route.

If you place a trap a long way away then it may kill wasps, but not the ones that are raiding your hives. If you had lots of these you might make a dent in the wasp colony size, but probably not enough to be effective.

So I put traps by my hives.

Steve

 

[fredbloggs]

This wasp issue will gather pace on the forum as the "raiding" season picks up.

My experience with wasp traps is mixed. I suspect that that has something to do with the variances experienced with bees and beekeeping. I think you only trap loads when the threat is real and profound.

I have put out traps which have not done much business. I also put out a bucket size bottle and three quarters filled it in a week. There is something strange in that the prescence of loads of corpses does not deter the hari kari brigade.

Whilst i operate a "all gods creatures" policy in the spring/early summer, when you have a threat to your colonies of that magnitude, there is only one course of action.

I found (stumbled on) the source having spent ages staring up in trees and farm buildings/stables etc. The nest was underground right by (behind) the gated apiary entrance. I virtually stepped on it every visit - stroke of pure luck that i did not? I torched them with a propane torch ( big one not a blow lamp) for about half hour and they still came out! Eventually dug them out and the hole was 12 inches square and nigh on two feet deep.

Should have gone to Specsavers?

Btw i put mine on the hive tops and agree with steve dyers reasoning. They are marauders and will find the hive as easily as the trap. Everyone in the trap on top of the hive is one less inside it.

 

[RosieMc]

Thanks for the tips. I will put a few traps out near my hives as suggested.

Then ALOT around my plum tree!!! (sorry Midland Beek) The plums get infested every year with them. Ever bitten into a plum when a wasp is still in there?

 

[Blue Spinnaker]

No Rosie, but as a child I drank some ribena that had a wasp in it, and have borne a grudge against all wasps ever since. Horrible, horrible, horrible