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A wasp trap is one of the best ways to control these pests in an apiary, if used along with the destruction of a wasp nest. Strong bee colonies do not need human intervention and are able to fight off wasps themselves, however, weak hives cannot do this, especially if they have a wide entrance. If the beekeeper does not take any additional means of protection, the pests will not only rob the weak colony, but also destroy it.
How do wasps harm bees?
The presence of wasps in an apiary does not lead to anything good - a peaceful neighborhood between bees and these aggressive insects is impossible for the following reasons:
- Wasps steal from bees with almost impunity in the autumn months, when the latter's activity decreases under the influence of low temperatures. Particularly dangerous at this time are hornets, which easily make their way inside the hive due to their large size and strength. After such raids, bees are left without food and may die in winter.
- Wasps are carriers of many infectious diseases.By getting into a hive or coming into contact with individual bees in an apiary, they can infect the entire colony.
- During the nesting period, wasps steal bee larvae and catch the bees themselves in the apiary and beyond, paralyze the caught individuals and take them to their nests. There they lay eggs in them and later use them as food for their offspring.
In addition, wasps often sting people while pumping honey.
How to protect bees from wasps
You can save bees from destruction by wasps using both active and passive methods of control:
- Choosing a place for an apiary. The location of the hives determines how much bees will be pestered by earthen varieties of wasps. It is recommended to place the apiary in areas with thick grass, without open clay wastelands and ravines - these are the places that wasps choose for their burrows.
- Restricting access to the hive. First, you need to seal all the cracks in the hive using a mixture of sawdust and PVA glue. Secondly, in the cold months, when the activity of bees decreases, the entrance to the hive is narrowed. In this case, a small hole is left through which bees can crawl through, but a wasp cannot get through.
- Placement of baits and traps. They are made in large quantities and placed throughout the site, updating from time to time.
- Destruction of a wasp's nest.
How to get rid of wasps in an apiary
It is necessary to combat wasps in the apiary in a comprehensive manner, combining various methods of protecting bees with the active destruction of pests.The main measures for the prevention and control of pests are carried out in early spring and autumn, in September.
Measures to combat wasps in spring
The fight against wasps begins in the spring. The first thing you need to do as soon as the snow melts is to carefully examine the apiary and surrounding areas, observing the movement of the wasps. The easiest way is to get rid of them before they have time to reproduce, and to do this you need to find the nest and destroy it in advance. In addition, killing a female hornet family at this time of year will lead to the death of the entire family - there will be no one to feed the young individuals.
How to deal with wasps in the apiary in the fall
In August and September, the second stage of confrontation with wasps in the apiary begins. At this time, to combat them, they set traps and dig up the soil on and near the site. Of course, it is impossible to dig up all the adjacent wastelands, however, you should pay attention to the following places:
- sandy “bald spots”;
- soil with high clay content;
- ravines.
Timely plowing of these areas helps to minimize the number of earthen wasps in the spring, which dig their holes primarily in sand and loose surfaces.
How to protect a hive from wasps
Control of these insects involves preventing them from entering the hive. To do this, it is necessary to seal all the cracks in the bee’s home using a variety of adhesives and putty.
Quite popular is a putty based on petroleum bitumen and clay, which you can make yourself:
- Water, clay and petroleum bitumen are taken in equal quantities.
- Water is poured into a metal bowl and clay is added to it.
- The resulting mixture is thoroughly stirred until a homogeneous mass is formed. In this case, the solution is constantly heated over low heat.
- Oil bitumen is heated in a separate container.
- The substance is then diluted with clay and mixed again, after which the putty is ready for use.
Putty is used to close the cracks in the corners and lower area of the hive. After 2-3 hours, it forms a dense crust through which wasps will not be able to break through.
Wasp traps
The following types of traps for wasp control can be distinguished:
- Glue traps that are placed on the roof of the hive. The basis of the trap is fermented bait that attracts wasps. Insects that fly to the bait stick to the sticky surface and can no longer fly up.
- Traps made from plastic or glass bottlesj. Volume is not important. Juices, beer and kvass are used to fill the trap. The effect of the trap is based on the fact that it is difficult for insects that get inside to find a way out in the form of a narrow neck.
- Traps made from glass jars and funnels. The principle of operation is approximately the same as that of bottle traps.
- Meat baits. About 150-200 g of meat must be hung near the apiary and treated with chlorophos solution. Bees are not attracted to meat, but wasps will quickly flock to it. Place a bucket of water under the bait. Individuals paralyzed by chlorophos will fall down and subsequently die in the water.
How to make a wasp trap with your own hands
Most often, traps made from plastic bottles are used in the fight against wasps. The manufacturing process is as follows:
- Cut off the narrow part of the bottle, about 10-12 cm.
- The cut part is placed inside the bottle, narrow end down. This way, it will be difficult for wasps that get inside to get out.
- The container is filled 1/3 full with bait: wine vinegar, fermented compote, beer, kvass, home brew, after which the trap is installed not far from the hive.
- Wasps that fly inside begin to drown in the liquid. As the bottle is filled, it is cleaned, more bait is added, if necessary, and returned to its original place.
Instead of bottles, you can use a liter glass jar to control wasps. A trap is made from it according to the following scheme:
- Place a plastic funnel in the jar and secure it with a rubber ring.
- About 30 g of sour fruit juice is poured into the jar, after which it is placed on its side on the roof of the hive. You can also put it on the ground.
- After 3-4 days, the pests that have entered the jar are filled with water. Then the dead insects are removed, and the contents of the trap are renewed and the jar is returned to its original place.
How to find a wasp's nest
It is recommended to inspect the area where the apiary is located and the immediate surroundings for the presence of wasp nests in the spring - it is easier to combat pests at the very beginning of settlement, when they have not yet had time to reproduce. These insects settle almost everywhere; potential refuges include:
- attics;
- abandoned buildings;
- gaps between buildings;
- awnings;
- tree hollows;
- depressions in the ground (for some types of wasps).
A wasp's nest looks like a spherical cocoon of a grayish tint. You can find it in the following ways:
- Catch one individual, after putting on protective clothing and a mask, and attach a red thread to it. This thread is used to monitor where the insect returns.
- The method is similar to the first, but there is no need to catch the insect. In the evening hours, you need to select one wasp and carefully trace its path to the nest, without getting too close to the individual.
- Early in the morning, a small piece of meat or fish sprinkled with a handful of sugar is placed in the apiary. The bait will attract the attention of insects, after which they can be followed to the nest.
Several methods for destroying a wasp nest
There are different ways to destroy wasp nests, including both humane and radical:
- Treatment with a strong-smelling substance. For this, kerosene, machine oil or gasoline are suitable, which they pour over the nest. But they leave the exit open so that the wasps can fly away. After 2-3 hours, the wasp family will begin to leave the home.
- Smoking with smoke. It is necessary to build a fire or set fire to rubber near the wasp nest. In order to drive wasps out of a nest, 2-3 treatments may be required, after which the empty nest is destroyed manually - burned or destroyed.
- Filling with boiled water. This method is best suited for destroying nests located in the ground. Add liquid soap to the water, stir the solution thoroughly and fill the inlet. Sockets located at height must be removed. Then they are immersed in water for 20-30 minutes. This time is enough to destroy the wasps.
- Setting fire. One of the most radical ways of fighting. This method is not suitable for nests attached to residential buildings and garden structures. Dwellings located underground are filled with gasoline and a lit match is thrown into it. After 1-2 minutes, the nest will be destroyed along with the wasps.
- Filling a wasp's nest with polyurethane foam. In this way, nests located in cracks between houses are most often destroyed. The substance blocks access to oxygen in a matter of seconds, which causes the rapid death of the wasps.
- Spraying with Dichlorvos. A thick plastic bag is carefully placed on the nest, quickly sprayed and closed, securing the edges with tape or tying the plastic in a knot. After 1-2 days, the package with the nest can be removed, after which the contents are either thrown away from the house or burned.
Regardless of the method of destroying the nest, you must take care of your own safety before starting the procedure. Angry wasps can greatly harm a person, so it is not recommended to approach a wasp’s home without gloves and clothing made of thick material, as well as a special beekeeper’s mask.
You can learn more about how to get rid of wasps in an apiary from the video below:
Conclusion
A wasp trap allows you to get rid of pests located directly on the apiary or near it without harm to the bees, but only with the correct selection of components. When making a trap, you should use ingredients that attract only wasps, otherwise bees will also get caught in them. In addition, it is recommended to combat these insects in a comprehensive manner, which involves regular inspection of the area for the presence of wasp nests and their subsequent destruction, carrying out preventive measures and installing baits.
