Build This Yellow Jacket Trap for Worry-Free Outdoor Soda Sipping [Video]

By Alan Henry, LifehackerAugust 28, 2012 at 08:00AM


If yellow jackets and other wasps still make unpleasant appearances at your backyard events, this pesticide-free wasp trap will take care of the little pests for you, without you having to lift a finger or risk getting stung.

Instructables user thebeatonpath built this wasp trap with a little red wine (we imagine a sugary drink would work just as well, since wasps tend to love sodas), some dish soap, and an empty plastic bottle. The method is similar to this fruit fly trap: just cut off the upper third of the bottle, flip it over so it fits back into the bottle like a funnel, pour some wine in the bottom of the bottle, add some dish soap to break the surface tension, and seal up the sides so the wasps can’t get out. Put the trap near a wasp nest or where you’ve seen them, and the results speak for themselves in the video above.

If you’re planning a Labor Day BBQ or just want to sip a soda outside before the weather turns cold without stinging insects bothering you, this is a simple, no-fuss way to guarantee your comfort—and safety.

DIY Yellow Jacket Bottle Trap | Instructables