Hornet Traps
Placement:
The trap can be hung in a tree, placed on a hive stand or somewhere secure in and around affected apiaries.
When to use?
The best time to use hanging traps varies depending on the local climate. Capturing hornet queens in the Spring is a vey effective way of reducing the number of hornet nests in an affected area. Between February and March is a good time to trap hornet queens as they emerge from hibernation- if you know where any previous nests were last year- place your traps near to those locations to catch them as they emerge.
However, hornets are active throughout the beekeeping season and so the traps will continue to be effective throughout the season until Autumn. Once Autumn arrives it is a good idea to place traps near to favourable hibernation sites, such as wood piles.
What bait should I use?
Hornets have a preference for sweet foods as they emerge, and as food resources are comparatively sparse in the Spring, sweet baits are highly attractive to hornet queens.
e.g Mix 2 tablespoons of sugar or honey with 350ml of beer and place in the trap.
Alternatively: Mix 200ml of water with 3 tablespoons of sugar or honey and a glass of vinegar.
For further information on Tap Traps please see the Tap Trap website »