Traps for wood boring bees.......

Re: Traps for wood boring bees.......

Agree 100 percent. I have one on my shed and it keeps them from boring holes in the cedar.

Re: Traps for wood boring bees.......

Wish I had figured this one out when I still had my old shop in PA. Those guys really perforated my siding and pine trim.

Ellis

A Grand Kids Project

Now I have a project to do with the Grandkids.  Simple enough to keep them interested, and done in less then a day. 

An important technical point........

I am hopeful that you go to YouTube to watch some videos on this for information that is lacking here.......but, note that the access holes were drilled with a ½" drill into the central hole of about ¾".......and were drilled upward at a 45° angle.......this gives the bees an opening just wide enough to accommodate their bodies.......and they are apparently attracted to light.......so, once in the trap via the access hole they are attracted downward into the glass jar.......and are (hopefully) unlikely to find their way out.......

I watched a few videos

on YouTube. Thanks

Re: An important technical point........

you should also make one that resembles a hut on a beach......

Re: An important technical point........

Margarbeetaville?

Re: Traps for wood boring bees.......

Re: Traps for wood boring bees....oops.

I made several of these and they did not work.  I made the hole 3/8" and maybe it was too small.

What seems to have worked was to take a gray plastic bag and fluff it up with other bags and tie a knot in the top and hang it up under a rafter so that it looks lik a hornet's nest.  The bumble bees are afraind of hornets and go away. 

Re: Traps for wood boring bees....oops.

Well, I've got 12 carpenter bees in my three traps and counting.......certainly, the size of the holes they use to get into the traps are important......so is where you place the traps.......and the choice of wood you used is important (soft woods like cedar are ideal)......

I'm new at this and just learning......maybe some well placed saw dust might help??.......or other enticements......but, they do work.

Re: Traps for wood boring bees....oops.

My house is trimmed with western red cedar and the bees were having a field day with it.  There were so many we used to paly "Bee Tennis" with them.  I would go out with an old tennis racket and swat as many as I could.  On the first day they were threatening and I would swat maybe a dozen.  They learned quickly and the next day they were not as threatening and I would only get three or four.  After that they would not approach and I got few or none.  They seemed to learn the location and return year after year.  (?) Eventually I had the house covered in vinyl and aluminum and I told the guys to do a really thorough job on the rear.  You should have seen all the buzzing around and heard all the angry buzzing from the ones that were trapped.  They gave up and moved to my shed.  I tried the traps and then the fake hornets nest.  Not nearly so many any more.

I do wonder if there is anything beneficial about them?

Re: Traps for wood boring bees....oops.

Sounds like they may have improved your tennis game.

Re: Traps for wood boring bees....oops.

Don't get any around your wooden statuesque friend or your may have some examples of boring that will answer your question......and you will not feel your usual level of "excitement"......