DIY Flying Bug Trap

Are you experiencing a bug resurrection? It’s spring here in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and the bugs have come out to play for the first time in months. I’m hearing from friends all over town that the wasps are bad right now, flying into houses, looking for places to build nests and reproduce while staying warm and dry. Our personal bug count is at a minimum, but I think that’s because of our chickens. I’m going to show you, today, how to make a DIY flying bug trap.

Dead wasp nest — I was out and about and saw this dead wasp nest through a broken leaded glass window. It’s beautiful. But I wouldn’t want it in my house.

Last summer our flies were super bad. The fly post reminded me of a great wasp trap. It’s essentially the same as the fly trap, but with different bait. So! If you’re currently experiencing a bug resurrection, let’s take a look at the diy flying bug trap and see what else we can catch and kill! Because when it comes to bugs and the Good Flea? There is no catch and release. No. Particularly not in my house. Ever.

Homemade fly trap — Yes, those are flies and watermelon. Yes, it’s disgusting. This photo was taken about 20 minutes after I set up the trap. Flies are gross.

Well, unless it’s a lady bug. Lady bugs are cute. But more than one lady bug? This is the time of year, I’m told, when lady bugs come in in droves. Will the diy flying bug traps work on them as well?

Posing hen — Mary Ann is my best flying bug trap, but not everyone can have chickens in their back yard.

The trap itself is simple. Grab an empty two liter soda bottle from your recycle bin. Cut the top off about a third of the way down. Here’s mine.

Water bottle beginnings for a flying bug trap — The beginnings of a DIY flying bug trap, a plastic water bottle. We don’t usually drink soda. I found this water bottle in the front yard, kinda squashed and dirty. So use whatcha got. It’ll still work. No prizes for pretty when you’re killing bugs.

Step two of the flying bug trap - cut the top off the bottle — Here’s the water bottle, top cut off using kitchen shears. You’ll definitely want either kitchen shears or a box cutter for cutting the top off of a two liter bottle. This is a wimpy bottle.

Pancake syrup as bait — Here’s the bait I’ll use for my DIY flying bug trap. Pancake syrup will probably work well with a variety of flying bugs in the spring.

Invert the top and you have a DIY flying bug trap! — Now invert the top of the bottle and shove it into the bottle. Using the two liter bottles last summer for flies, I had to duct tape the top in place. It kept wanting to pop out. The person at Prairie Story uses sugar water as bait, which is why I figure syrup will work for wasps and yellow jackets. They also recommend putting a little vaseline or cooking oil in the funnel, so the bugs lose their footing and slide in. I didn’t need to with the flies.

The person at the Prairie Story suggests drilling or punching holes on the sides near the top and stringing the trap in order to hang it. You can do that. It will probably work best with wasps and yellow jackets. With flies, I just set the DIY flying bug trap on a flat space and watched flies die. It was AWESOME. Oh, and Prairie Story makes a great point about trap placement and stinging insects – place it away from where you’ll be working or children will be playing.

And lady bugs? Same trap, with sugar water, preferably with a scent. But add a black light. This dude puts his trap behind his couch. And who doesn’t want a black light?! Fresh fruit makes a great lure. It’s colorful, smells sweet, tastes good. But don’t use frozen fruit. It just doesn’t work.

So! No dog treats involved! We want to remember to use Jones Natural Chews as rewards, not lures. Jones chews make dogs smile. Naturally.

Until I write again …

Flea

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