[Sirrotica]

Originally Posted by stags

Those traps work well - but more is better.

I made my own using 6" long blocks of 4 x 4 cedar - drilled the center hole then an angled hole to intersect it on each side - then screwed a mason jar lid with a matching hole to the bottom. To empty just unscrew the jar and dump.

Might try the Mountain Dew and/or beer trick as well.

If you make/buy traps, be sure to leave some of the dead bees in the jar. The pheromones from the dead bees will serve to draw in new bees, likewise if you have new traps and are adding them to some you already have take some of your dead bees and add them to the new traps.

When I first made my new traps it took weeks to get any action, when I got a few dead ones the kill ratio went up dramatically. After reading up on some seasoned trappers they confirmed that empty traps work very slowly, but pick up when they get some dead bees in them.

FWIW, there are dozens of videos on You tube for ridding your property of carpenter bees. One of the best is using chrysanthemum based pyrethrum natural powder as an insecticide. Just brushing against a surface treated with pyrethrum is said to kill bees, and other pests immediately.

I've not seen the beer, or mountain dew bait discussed on you tube, but I could have missed it in the dozens of videos available.