I have discovered that using Bengal Roach spray in the area's that these Carpenter bees target, once their feet contact the Bengal it is game over! They don't drop dead immediately but they DO DROP DEAD. I also sprayed Bengal at my front door plus on the threshold area. Works fantastic!
Due to seeing bees actually able to climb back out of traps I began putting an inch or so of cooking oil in the bottle. Once they hit the oil, no more escapes!
Additional comment: These bees can be selective about the wood they will burrow in. So if you have a lot of old unpainted/unprotected wood around, they will tend to go to that wood first. If you have unpressure-treated wood they will choose that over pressure treated. So when making and hanging your traps take note of other types of wood are in the area. Paint and/or protect all other wood in the area. If you can use softer untreated wood for the trap that is better than new pressure treated. I happened to find some old but solid 4x4's and these worked perfect for my traps and the carpenter bees seem to love these. I try to make sure all the other wood in the area is painted. Also the bees seem to like corners, so hang your traps either in inside or outside corners of the outside of your structures. For example if you have a porch that sticks out from the walls of your house, then put the traps on the outer corners of the porch or on the place where the side walls of the porch connect to the wall of the house.
I’ve been seeing these bees lately hovering in front of me. I told them I’d leave them alone if they’d leave me alone. Hahaha . Well they left me alone a little while but I’m seeing damage they do!!!!! Oh nooooo! This will not work out!’!! I was going to get a small frying pan, sit on the porch and swat them down . Ping dead! Ya know. But I like this bottle of yours with the block of wood idea better lol. So next pay day we will get the materials needed and make a few then spread the idea to the neighbors too and we live need a little forest so maybe put some of these in the woods too. Thank you for the idea! They are getting pretty bad around here. It’ll take forever to get rid of the pests with a frying pan and I don’t want to get bit or stung! Ouch! Hubby is a carpenter so he’ll be into the idea too. Yay I don’t have to sway bees. Thank you bet much’
@@mypurpleflower6585 Yeah, unfortunately that is the problem with carpenter bees. One female can lay somewhere between 6-8 larvae in a season. Those will hatch the next Spring and stay in the same area. So the first year you may only see two (male and female) the next year you, might see 4 - 6 pair (depending on the male vs female makeup of the first generation). Within 3-4 years you're inundated with carpenter bees and their chewing up your wood at an alarming rate.
These work! I have one on my shed and regularly empty the dead bees from the bottle. I used a plastic water bottle instead, and glued the cap (with a hole in it ) to the block. No set screw needed.
I had an additional thought. Instead of the "set screw" you could get a piece of metal, nothing too thick, you want it so it's not too hard to work with, but stiff enough that it will hold the bottle. Cut a square piece just slightly smaller than the bottom of your piece of wood. Then, drill a hole the same size as the neck of your bottle (just below the "lip" on the neck. Once you have that done, cut the piece of metal in half. This gives you two pieces with half moon slots. Drill a hole in the center each metal piece just big enough to put a screw through. Flip the trap piece of wood upside down. Put the bottle into the center hole. Now take your two pieces of metal and slide them on so the half moons of each metal piece slide on each side of the neck of the bottle. Keeping the half moons tight to the neck of the bottle, put a screw through each piece of metal into the trap wood (be careful that your screws don't go into the tunnel that you drilled in the trap). This should hold the bottle in place as that "lip" on the bottle neck won't allow the bottle to slip out. Flip your trap upside right and you should be good to go. If you want. Drill a small hole from the top of the wood trap into the larger center hole. This will allow you to poor some soapy water through that small hole and into the bottle, once you have your trap flipped upside right. I always put about a 1/2 inch of soapy water into my traps. Also, do not clean out your traps for the whole season. The dead bees give off a pheromone that attracts other bees. So only clean out your traps once a year. Unless of course they get totally filled with bees FYI - You could probably use some stiff plastic instead of the metal.. might be easier to work with. Just make sure it is stiff enough to hold the bottle in place.
They shouldn’t be killed, they are beneficials and we are losing such insects at an alarming rate. Build a bee house where they can drill as they need and they’ll leave your house alone.
Stain, paint or seal the wood regularly to prevent it from drying out. When the wood gets to a certain dryness it attracts them. They make a wood bee spray at diy or home repair box stores. Spray early morning or when cool or cloudy. Only one quick burst per hole will do the job. A can with a straw works best. This along with bee traps will get them under control. You want to put a male bee in the trap. That's the one that gets in your face. The males defend the female. That's when the racket or bat comes in handy. Start early in spring before it warms up above 70. Takes several seasons to get under control. Hope this is helpful to someone.
@@murphshall treated is better but untreated will work if stained or painted when it needs it. The idea is to keep it from completely drying out due to exposure.
@@richardtrowell8812 thanks Richard. I started with treated but because it's so wet, it splinters quite bad (in the hole) and didn't know if the smell would turn them off. I have a lot cabin (kit home) and they are burrowing in, laying their larvae, then the woodpeckers come - very frustrating. I'll take a file to it to clean it up. Glad I came across this and thanks for the info.
My old house could have used about 8 of thise traps! 😂 Those bees were munching the thing to sawdust. I started pumping 7 into holes and would watch the dust pump out the opposite end of house!
Paper bag stuff with plastic bags and hang upside down where bees are. They will think it is a wasp nest and not come near it. Hope this helps. It does work
I did my traps similar but I used a slightly bigger bottle (like a 1 quart orange juice bottle) then what I did was drilled a larger hole in the cap of the orange juice bottle and then glued the cap to the bottom of the piece of wood (lining up the hole in the cap with the hole in the wood. Then all I had to do was screw the orange juice bottle into the cap and bingo I have a removable trap. Then I took a small eye hook and screwed in into the top of the piece of wood. Now I can use any type of carbineer or snap hook and I can hang the trap pretty easily. Also, it looked like "Simon" only drilled one hole on one side. When I make my traps, I drill four upward angled holes, one on each side and all four of the upward angled hole connect with the bigger hole drill up through the bottom of the wood of the trap. This way the bee can enter through any of the four holes and she will still end up crawling down the center hole into the bottle.
I have such traps and get a lot of them. When they’re buzzing around me I shoot them with a .22 loaded with tiny shot. Within about 8’, they just disintegrate. Obviously I’m in a country setting. Trapping is more effective, but shooting them is far more satisfying.
These traps do work very well, I like the design of these. If you are able to find where the carpenter bees nest, in the past I have waited until dusk, sprayed bee killer up inside the hole, and then capped it with a piece of hardwood dowel covered in wood glue. Of course you have to be very careful doing this, but it works to kill them, and cap the nest. I just come back a day later and saw the dowel off flush.
That is a great idea! I have plugged all of the existing holes I could find but a few were drill through again by the bees inside. The bee killer is a good touch to keep them from getting back out. Thanks!
I was intently watching, focusing on how to build the trap, and then showed you smacking with a board. I busted out laughing and pictured me swatting at them. ( which is how I do it) with my wife laughing at me the whole time. I just finished making the trap as you showed. Time will tell now. Thanks for the video, not only was it entertaining, it was educational.
Haha that’s so funny! It took some time for the first bee to enter the trap but then once one was in they all started to use it. They may be attracted to the scent of other bees. Good luck with yours!
Making a bat is great fun. I made one before seeing this video. I made one out a piece of 1"x6" it sounds just like a player cracking a homeone when you are watching a game on tv
I have grandkids that live on a farm with way to many of these bees in the barns. I introduced them to a fun game who can hit the most bees in a predetermined time. Your bee bat is ok but try a badmitten racket. Lighter, faster and covers more air space. Very satisfying and fun for young and old.
Very good, better than my way which is to use chalking and fill the hole when the bee is inside the hole. I shall make two and add then to my corner posts. Thank you for the idea.
Hay got to let you know i have a victorine home and my front porch always has the bees all around it and they are a pain so will be making your traps today and testing them out this was a great idea thank you. Will get back to you to let you know how it goes.
awesome! thanks for letting me know! Something I think helps is if you can plug any holes you see with caulk. That causes the bees to search for a new hole and they are more likely to find your trap instead of drilling a new one. Good Luck!
Good design but I would suggest making at least three(3) entry holes rather than your one(1), could double or even triple your catch. I make four (4) entry holes, one in each side and hang traps from the top. I have seen bees enter two or three holes at the same time.
@@SimonSaysDIY that's what I'm thinking. I can double a couple 2x4 scraps if the cedar doesnt work.. I have plenty of them. I need to try this. Monster bees are everywhere.
Also rather than caulking the holes you can get plug Cutters and all different sizes make your own to fit but 3/8 always work for me spray into the hole insecticide and then glue plug into place matches a whole lot better than caulk.
Got a big problem with these bees!, I sweat them to the ground with my ball cap and smash them with my foot!, I've killed like thirty in the last 3 days!, I will build these and try them out!. Good video!
Thanks! I hope they work well for you! :) I found it helps to put the traps up and just wait. When the bees are active, It may take a few days before you catch the first bee after that more quickly follow. It also helps to plug the existing holes the bees are currently living in. The bees will look for a new hole before chewing a new one. Good luck!
good video, and I liked the project....In the past I've used either a tennis racket or a racketball racket to knock them out of the air....then step on them before they can get away.
Gonna have to build a few of these. I have found that a badminton racket works perfectly for swatting/cheese slicing carpenter bees. Also keeps me in good form for my game;-)
In close quarters I use one of those aluminum pie pans that comes with a pie from the grocery store. Makes a nice sound when it connects with the pesky things.
No that I know of. I did notice that once a bee used the trap I started to catch many more bees. They probably can smell the sent of other bees and that may attract them to the trap. Also some types of wood may work better than others. Is seems like they prefer dry wood and avoid new/fresh pressure treated lumber.
When I changed the fascia a few years ago, which was 1x4" red cedar 12' long installed about 30-33 yrs ago, I found full length parallel tunnels in the boards made by carpenter bees, one board had 5 such tunnels, others 2 or 3. The bees overwinter in the tunnels and emerge in the spring and re-use the same tunnels year after year. Used Hardie board to replace. There can be 6-8-10 bees in one tunnel over wintering.
Take WD-40 with the straw nozzle and spray in there. It kills them, I once got one drilling into the porch. I sprayed WD in there, and it buzzed like crazy in there, and backed out of the hole and fell to the ground. Just one more use for WD40. Bug killer!!
@@SimonSaysDIY I'm so looking forward to building some of these on my house, my neighbors tell me there are a lot of carpenter bees in my area. My house is new so an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
I will make YOUR trap ahead of the need. I had ONE carpenter bee in my painted wood the first year, and then 4 the next year. I swear they tell their friends (no proof). All 4 were faster than I was swinging a broom; soon they were smart enough to stay 6 feet away from me. Finally, I had to sit like a statue, minimal eye-contact, wait for them to enter the hole, then jump up and SPRAY a wasp-killing spray in the hole. Then fill the hole with putty, sand, paint. Repeated 3 more times. NO bees for two years now (does this prove my theory?)
@@SimonSaysDIY since writing this, I am very sorry. Carpenter bees are pollinators, but don't make honey. They don't sting. Alternative methods are available to us. Paper bag, fake wasp nests or noise from wind chimes, etc. OUR bee population is in trouble in the USA.
Nice design. A suggestion - for the set screw, if you off set it so it runs in at a tangent along the side of the bottle, not as likely to break from tightening.
@@SimonSaysDIY - You're using pressure treated wood in the video - carpenter bees usually avoid pressure treated wood. Always use "softwood" like pine, fir, etc. (not hardwood), and use either well weathered wood or new unpainted, untreated wood.
@@johnnellis3025 - The video show "NEW" pressure treated wood being used, which means it smells and tastes bad to the bees. A deck, depending on the age, will have weathered and lost much of that deterrent, especially if it hasn't been painted or stained since being built. Pressure-treating doesn't protect the wood forever.
Use two screws and thread it in? No screwdriver needed to remove. Cut the top of a plastic cap off and glue it in? One hole on each side of the bottle with a "U" shape wire pushed in below the lip? Rubber tube friction fit?
Here's a suggestion using a clear plastic bottle instead of a glass bottle and a set screw. I use A "Hint brand" flavored water bottle because it has a wider mouth and a classic bottle shape. Carefully drill out the bottle top cap and drill a comparable size hole in the bottom of your trap. I drill a 1 1/8 inch hole up the middle of my 4x4. Then I use a step drill bit to make the hole large enough to accommodate the bottle top. Gently tap the bottle top into the hole and friction will keep it secure. Then all you have to do is screw the plastic bottle into the cap. You might want to practice with a separate piece of wood to perfect the technique. I like this method because it doesn't risk breaking glass and the overall bee trap is lighter.
Bart Bartlett he stated early in the video why he is using a glass bottle. He was using plastic before but he wanted something a little more attractive hanging on his porch.
@@audioeeze8396but broken glass is not very aesthetic. Function over aesthetics is personal choice. We who comment are sharing opinions, dont be mr I'll correct everyone guy.
Thanks for the great practical information to a real problem I have. They are everywhere in Michigan now - 4/3/21 and I expect them until the next hard frost
They liked the pressure treated wood of our deck and railings. No such bees where I now live in Alaska but bad in Michigan. If I still lived there I would make a couple of these. Good idea.
They usually hang around telephone poles.... just plant one a few ft away... you save a bee that also helps FLOWERS seeds grow. ... they help bloom your flowers for Easter n all thru summer....think about that!!!!! Thx ✌️
Instead of the superlong anchor screw and wood filler, how about a backside hanger tab or recessed key hole hanger? A slope on the top surface would shed rain water and moisture better.
The trick to these traps is to get them up early, as soon as possible once the weather starts to warm. You need to catch the females before they start laying eggs. The males, which are the ones you see most of the time zooming around are relatively harmless and catching them is not all that helpful because more males will come. If you catch and kill the females you will quickly eliminate the population and the females come out first and start burrowing. So get the traps out ASAP, if you are in Northern climates get them cleaned up and put out as soon as freezing weather ends. As long as the traps don't freeze up and burst, you are OK putting them out.
So I just built a dozen of these, (before seeing your video), and I can tell I made a bunch of mistakes. Here they are, in no particular order: 1.) I put a quantity of 4, 1/2" diagonal holes going into the main vertical hole, 0ne per block face, (which means that the bees has three other choices to not die in). 2.) I used wide mouthed bottles that had tin lids stapled to the block, allowing wide access to the hole going back out! 3.) I missed out on the reason to buy 3 quad packs of IBC sodas, (some of the best on the planet)! 4.) WD-40 for taking the adhesive off the bottle?!? Now that was worth watching your video for all by itself! This explains why my prototype was so phenomenally unsuccessful at catching the little wood munchers. Did I see you caulking up the existing holes the carpenter bees left? Also, what size Forstner bit did you use for the bottle? 3/4"? Thanks for posting this. I may be able to salvage my blocks with 1/2" dowel pegs stuffed in the extra holes and replace the wide-mouths with soda bottles if the main vertical hole is 3/4", (which is what mine are). Looks like it's rework time for my traps! Thanks for posting this!
haha, well I have heard of traps with that design working but it may depend on the bees in your area. A few things that I found helps attract the bees to the trap is: - Filling any existing holes with calking or wooden dowels causes the bees to search for a new hold before making a new one. - Placing dead bees in the jar before hanging up. I noticed that it took a long time for the first be to be caught in the trap but then many more started to use the trap. they may be attracted to the scent of other bees. - Placing the traps on a frequent place the bees search. I watched the bees and they seemed to search the side of the rafters and especially at the corners of the roof. to answer your questions, yes I used caulking to plug the holes. a few times they chewed through the caulk but I just filled it back up again. As for the size of the Forstner bit I used, I believe it was 1 inch. But depending on the bottle you may need a larger size. Good luck with your traps! Thanks for watching!
@@SimonSaysDIY FYI if you (only) caulk up the holes, it will not kill a bee in there, nor will it kill the eggs that have been laid. Make sure to put poison in the hole first 👍
Soda bottles don’t vary that much. Let me help y’all out. A typical US threaded plastic bottle throat is a breath over 1”. Would have been nice to have that as a starting point in the presentation. Always measure twice cut once.
Nice job and it looks great! How about using either using a plastic screw, or adding a thin bead of hot glue or a rubber band around the top of the bottle or at the tip of the steel screw to act as a bumper between the bottle and set screw? I might make the block a bit higher, and I'd use natural wood, not pressure-treated, if available. You can also decorate the bottle with paint or self-stick appliques that will still allow plenty of light in and block the sight f dead bees. You could even turn the unit into a lamp for after dark by winding a solar wire and seed LED light set around the outside of the glass and hot-gluing into place!
We use a badminton racquet to whack them, or butterfly net to catch & squash, plus traps. Your trap idea is the easiest to build that I've seen so far! Great job! When we empty our traps we have to empty into a clear bag bcz some are still alive & then we squash them. Using your bottle trap, people could just put the cap back on and throw away. Maybe use a plastic bottle & cap.
I've been buying and using carpenter bee traps for several years now and the main problem with them is getting bees to go into them initially if it's a new trap. Once a dead bee or two is trapped, the scent will attract more but it can take a while to get the initial bee "seed" trapped. What I did this year was get some bee attractant off amazon and it worked AMAZINGLY well but my traps fro last year are falling apart so I may just DIY a few more this year. I've got plenty of spare wood. Also, we have a $1 per bee bounty at my house so the kids will be out there with tennis racquets going to town.
I personally like using my badminton racquets. Got one in 4 different locations ready and loaded! Better than the bat you showcased. But, Like the traps too! I might need to take the time and do this one. 3 barns, and a 50 foot cedar deck, and carport. I mix two kinds of sprays every year to keep them away.
Good luck! I would fill any holes already Bering used by the bees if you can, this will prevent further damage and it will help the bees find the hole on the trap instead of all the others. Thanks for watching!
since they actually pollinate more plants than honeybees, you can build them a nesting box away from your house and shop and they will still help your garden and flowers to flourish
@@BS.-.- i get that. But the bees are destroying your property and costing me money. And not allowing my family to enjoy our backyard. So that problem is greater than keeping bees around to pollinate
Yeah, if left alone they can cause extensive damage over the course of a few years. It worked well for us! Good luck with yours! It helps to plug any existing holes you see. That well make them search for a new one.
@@nancysmith9487 These bees _don't_ make honey, they are solitary wood-boring bees, that are very destructive, and very common in the SE USA. I wish them no ill in general, but, like most other people posting here, I have no qualms about trapping and killing those that want to eat my home. Oh, and I looked all the way to the end of the comments and didn't see your post about honey, or under anyone else's post about honey.
It probably bee better if we didnt kill them... One way you can prevent them from coming to your house is making sure everything is well painted and no open wood is on your house, silicone on cracks, and putting up a carpenter bee house away from your home by some flowers are all really nice methods to keep them from attacking your home without straight up killing then... Also if you leave the bottles there, the dead bees pheromones will attract more.... It a good trap design though.
3/8" drill is the right size hole. That is the size the bee makes. I make mine with a 3/8" drill. I also add water in the bottle, about 2 inches. Add a eye let to the top and hang it with an "S" hook. Also if you want to hit them try a tennis racket, bad mitten racket and even a racket ball racket. The males can sting you.
I was plugging the holes with dowel rod pieces, and found that 3/8" was too loose, and 7/16" was needing a little sharpening to get started in the hole. So, I determined that the holes were 10mm... Just proves my thought that that carpenter bees are a commie plot, since all the communist countries are metric, not SAE. 😎
Carpenter bees are important pollinators of many flowering plants found in our gardens, natural areas, and on farms. In fact, 15% of our agricultural crops are pollinated by native bees such as carpenter bees. Because of how hugely beneficial they are to local ecosystems, many beekeepers say it's important to safely move them instead. Carpenter Bees are naturally repelled by the smell of citrus, it can be tempting to simply exterminate them, but you should take a more peaceful route.
My choice for bee bopping is using a badminton racket, lots of surface area, light weight and makes a satisfying sound when carpenter bees are struck.. try it out. Find rackets at Goodwill and pay $1 each.
Killing carpenter bees is a mistake They are important pollinators for all of your flowering plants and fruit trees. If you want to keep them away from your building frame work mix up a quart of liquid plumber/caustic soda, with 4 quarts of water. Paint your deck framing material with it and let it dry, stain over the material with a color of your choice, This will lock in the caustic and repel all wood drilling bugs with out killing them.
I put a mason jar on the bottom. The rim is screwed to wood and then you put about 1 inch of sugar water in jar. Hang up and catch bees. I was a bit skeptical but within an hour I had several in one and one in another. After about 3 weeks I had a total of 14. No more squirting WD-40 in the holes. That method did work but you had to search out each hole and that took a lot of time.
I sit on my deck and shoot them with the grandson's Red Ryder BB gun. Keeps me in shape for wing shooting when hunting season rolls around. Tip: Buy plenty of BBs.
We use to make little projectile with rubber band and shoot at them as kids. If we were lucky we get one that can fly, remove their sting, and tie sewing thread around it's neck and fly them around. We did this to all form of insects. The fav was the Japanese beetle or the dragon flies.
I have discovered that using Bengal Roach spray in the area's that these Carpenter bees target, once their feet contact the Bengal it is game over! They don't drop dead immediately but they DO DROP DEAD.
I also sprayed Bengal at my front door plus on the threshold area. Works fantastic!
Thanks for the tip! 😊
I also discovered that giving my front door a light spraying with Bengal really eliminates a lot of bugs!
The door has 12 glass panes.
Ah, the memories. My dad used to swat carpenter bees on our front porch each night with a badminton raquet...what fun he had!
What a great memory!! 😄
Due to seeing bees actually able to climb back out of traps I began putting an inch or so of cooking oil in the bottle. Once they hit the oil, no more escapes!
WD-40 works well too.
I used this video and built these. Once the first bee goes in they can't resist. Works great!
Additional comment: These bees can be selective about the wood they will burrow in. So if you have a lot of old unpainted/unprotected wood around, they will tend to go to that wood first. If you have unpressure-treated wood they will choose that over pressure treated. So when making and hanging your traps take note of other types of wood are in the area. Paint and/or protect all other wood in the area. If you can use softer untreated wood for the trap that is better than new pressure treated. I happened to find some old but solid 4x4's and these worked perfect for my traps and the carpenter bees seem to love these. I try to make sure all the other wood in the area is painted. Also the bees seem to like corners, so hang your traps either in inside or outside corners of the outside of your structures. For example if you have a porch that sticks out from the walls of your house, then put the traps on the outer corners of the porch or on the place where the side walls of the porch connect to the wall of the house.
I’ve been seeing these bees lately hovering in front of me. I told them I’d leave them alone if they’d leave me alone. Hahaha . Well they left me alone a little while but I’m seeing damage they do!!!!! Oh nooooo! This will not work out!’!! I was going to get a small frying pan, sit on the porch and swat them down . Ping dead! Ya know. But I like this bottle of yours with the block of wood idea better lol. So next pay day we will get the materials needed and make a few then spread the idea to the neighbors too and we live need a little forest so maybe put some of these in the woods too. Thank you for the idea! They are getting pretty bad around here. It’ll take forever to get rid of the pests with a frying pan and I don’t want to get bit or stung! Ouch! Hubby is a carpenter so he’ll be into the idea too. Yay I don’t have to sway bees. Thank you bet much’
@@mypurpleflower6585 Yeah, unfortunately that is the problem with carpenter bees. One female can lay somewhere between 6-8 larvae in a season. Those will hatch the next Spring and stay in the same area. So the first year you may only see two (male and female) the next year you, might see 4 - 6 pair (depending on the male vs female makeup of the first generation). Within 3-4 years you're inundated with carpenter bees and their chewing up your wood at an alarming rate.
Caught 17 yesterday, here in Chicago, but now the carpenters union is after me. Thanks alot.
Great job!
I use a badminton racket to swat wasps and bees out of the air while I’m working outdoors. Rarely miss, no wind resistance.
I would be terribly terrified if I missed.
When I was a kid I would use a wiffle ball bat gives a real nice pop.
Nice! I need to try it!
Damn, show it off! Can we get a video of your Olympic level wasp swatting skills? That would be epic. (This was funnier in my head).
Been doing the same thing. Then fill the holes with silicone caulk
I'll try this. I've been using a badminton racket for years and have had fun as well as success with it.
These work! I have one on my shed and regularly empty the dead bees from the bottle. I used a plastic water bottle instead, and glued the cap (with a hole in it ) to the block. No set screw needed.
leave some of the bees in. pheromones
I use a tennis racquet to swat them in mid air. Great fun! And the thud when I connect is a very satisfying feeling. Lol
Love it! :)
Me too - best is 10 in one day!
That actually sounds like fun
I use a weed whacker🤣🤣🤣
Tennis racket!!!
I had an additional thought. Instead of the "set screw" you could get a piece of metal, nothing too thick, you want it so it's not too hard to work with, but stiff enough that it will hold the bottle. Cut a square piece just slightly smaller than the bottom of your piece of wood. Then, drill a hole the same size as the neck of your bottle (just below the "lip" on the neck. Once you have that done, cut the piece of metal in half. This gives you two pieces with half moon slots. Drill a hole in the center each metal piece just big enough to put a screw through.
Flip the trap piece of wood upside down. Put the bottle into the center hole. Now take your two pieces of metal and slide them on so the half moons of each metal piece slide on each side of the neck of the bottle. Keeping the half moons tight to the neck of the bottle, put a screw through each piece of metal into the trap wood (be careful that your screws don't go into the tunnel that you drilled in the trap). This should hold the bottle in place as that "lip" on the bottle neck won't allow the bottle to slip out. Flip your trap upside right and you should be good to go. If you want. Drill a small hole from the top of the wood trap into the larger center hole. This will allow you to poor some soapy water through that small hole and into the bottle, once you have your trap flipped upside right. I always put about a 1/2 inch of soapy water into my traps. Also, do not clean out your traps for the whole season. The dead bees give off a pheromone that attracts other bees. So only clean out your traps once a year. Unless of course they get totally filled with bees
FYI - You could probably use some stiff plastic instead of the metal.. might be easier to work with. Just make sure it is stiff enough to hold the bottle in place.
They shouldn’t be killed, they are beneficials and we are losing such insects at an alarming rate. Build a bee house where they can drill as they need and they’ll leave your house alone.
This was wonderful info and your directions are spot on, even for me.
Stain, paint or seal the wood regularly to prevent it from drying out. When the wood gets to a certain dryness it attracts them. They make a wood bee spray at diy or home repair box stores. Spray early morning or when cool or cloudy. Only one quick burst per hole will do the job. A can with a straw works best. This along with bee traps will get them under control. You want to put a male bee in the trap. That's the one that gets in your face. The males defend the female. That's when the racket or bat comes in handy. Start early in spring before it warms up above 70. Takes several seasons to get under control. Hope this is helpful to someone.
A tun of great info!! Thanks so much!
Good info.. Can I use treated lumber or should I get non treated? Thanks
@@murphshall treated is better but untreated will work if stained or painted when it needs it. The idea is to keep it from completely drying out due to exposure.
@@richardtrowell8812 thanks Richard. I started with treated but because it's so wet, it splinters quite bad (in the hole) and didn't know if the smell would turn them off. I have a lot cabin (kit home) and they are burrowing in, laying their larvae, then the woodpeckers come - very frustrating.
I'll take a file to it to clean it up. Glad I came across this and thanks for the info.
i realize it's kinda off topic but does anybody know of a good site to watch new series online ?
My old house could have used about 8 of thise traps! 😂 Those bees were munching the thing to sawdust. I started pumping 7 into holes and would watch the dust pump out the opposite end of house!
Badminton rackets work great too
Nice!!
I definitely agree Dano. I put slashes on my racket for kills recorded
@@davidevanstech3811 I get bit by a mosquito for every kill
That's what I use. Lol
My hubby would hit them so hard bee pieces would go flying😛
I use an old Roy Rogers bb gun great fun keeps my eye sharp haven't broken any Windows yet very effective especially when they hover
Nice! Sounds like fun :)
you'll shoot your eye out, kid !
Paper bag stuff with plastic bags and hang upside down where bees are. They will think it is a wasp nest and not come near it. Hope this helps. It does work
Thats and awesome tip! thanks so much!
@@SimonSaysDIY cheers ✌
My buddy likes using a tennis racket. I usually use my hat for most flying pest. But I will be making these traps. Thanks for sharing
Thanks! 😁 Good luck making yours!
I have made traps very similar to these and they do work. I used mason jars with the lids screwed into the bottom of the block.
I have seen that style, Glad to know they work! Thanks!!
Great idea! Thank you!! Note a Tennis racquet works good for smacking them also in your spare time
Haha Thanks! 😄
I did my traps similar but I used a slightly bigger bottle (like a 1 quart orange juice bottle) then what I did was drilled a larger hole in the cap of the orange juice bottle and then glued the cap to the bottom of the piece of wood (lining up the hole in the cap with the hole in the wood. Then all I had to do was screw the orange juice bottle into the cap and bingo I have a removable trap. Then I took a small eye hook and screwed in into the top of the piece of wood. Now I can use any type of carbineer or snap hook and I can hang the trap pretty easily.
Also, it looked like "Simon" only drilled one hole on one side. When I make my traps, I drill four upward angled holes, one on each side and all four of the upward angled hole connect with the bigger hole drill up through the bottom of the wood of the trap. This way the bee can enter through any of the four holes and she will still end up crawling down the center hole into the bottle.
if you had filmed it, you'd be internet famous by now!!
@@jaewok5G hahaha thanks
Thanks for the tips! 😄
I have such traps and get a lot of them. When they’re buzzing around me I shoot them with a .22 loaded with tiny shot. Within about 8’, they just disintegrate. Obviously I’m in a country setting. Trapping is more effective, but shooting them is far more satisfying.
These traps do work very well, I like the design of these. If you are able to find where the carpenter bees nest, in the past I have waited until dusk, sprayed bee killer up inside the hole, and then capped it with a piece of hardwood dowel covered in wood glue. Of course you have to be very careful doing this, but it works to kill them, and cap the nest. I just come back a day later and saw the dowel off flush.
That is a great idea! I have plugged all of the existing holes I could find but a few were drill through again by the bees inside. The bee killer is a good touch to keep them from getting back out. Thanks!
I had a bunch of them drillingbaway on my deck supports I filled their hole with silicone and trapped them all inside.
Nice t-shirt. Go Pats! Great idea for the trap.
Thanks 👍
Very clever! Design is pretty fabulous!
Thank you!
Cool. Great gift idea. Traps for the oldies and bats for the kids.
Thanks! :)
I was intently watching, focusing on how to build the trap, and then showed you smacking with a board. I busted out laughing and pictured me swatting at them. ( which is how I do it) with my wife laughing at me the whole time. I just finished making the trap as you showed. Time will tell now. Thanks for the video, not only was it entertaining, it was educational.
Haha that’s so funny! It took some time for the first bee to enter the trap but then once one was in they all started to use it. They may be attracted to the scent of other bees. Good luck with yours!
Making a bat is great fun. I made one before seeing this video. I made one out a piece of 1"x6" it sounds just like a player cracking a homeone when you are watching a game on tv
How ingenious!
Thanks!
I have grandkids that live on a farm with way to many of these bees in the barns. I introduced them to a fun game who can hit the most bees in a predetermined time. Your bee bat is ok but try a badmitten racket. Lighter, faster and covers more air space. Very satisfying and fun for young and old.
Try tennis racket works even better
Love it!! I’ll have to try it out!!
i call it bee ball!!!!
Very good, better than my way which is to use chalking and fill the hole when the bee is inside the hole. I shall make two and add then to my corner posts. Thank you for the idea.
Thanks so much! :)
Hay got to let you know i have a victorine home and my front porch always has the bees all around it and they are a pain so will be making your traps today and testing them out this was a great idea thank you. Will get back to you to let you know how it goes.
awesome! thanks for letting me know! Something I think helps is if you can plug any holes you see with caulk. That causes the bees to search for a new hole and they are more likely to find your trap instead of drilling a new one. Good Luck!
@@SimonSaysDIY thank you was thinking about that and went to store yesturday and got a few tubes thanks for the reply.
I also live in a old victorian mine was built in the 1800s. So many of these bore bees cant stand them.
You can use a small Mason jar and screw the lid to the 4x4 it works too .
Thanks for the tip! :)
Good design but I would suggest making at least three(3) entry holes rather than your one(1), could double or even triple your catch. I make four (4) entry holes, one in each side and hang traps from the top. I have seen bees enter two or three holes at the same time.
Thanks!!! I’ll have to test that out!
Is there a certain kind of wood they like oak,pine etc
@@xXthechameleonXxog I can tell you that CCA or newer treated wood does NOT deter them.
The only 4x4 I have around is a cedar mailbox post. Think it would be ok?
I’m not sure, I imagine so but some bugs don’t like cedar wood.
@@SimonSaysDIY that's what I'm thinking. I can double a couple 2x4 scraps if the cedar doesnt work.. I have plenty of them. I need to try this. Monster bees are everywhere.
Yeah 2 2x4s should work well! Good luck with yours! It’s a good feeling to have bees in the trap instead of chewing your house apart :)
Also rather than caulking the holes you can get plug Cutters and all different sizes make your own to fit but 3/8 always work for me spray into the hole insecticide and then glue plug into place matches a whole lot better than caulk.
Sounds like that would work really well! Thanks!
What bit& size did u use for bottle opening?
Got a big problem with these bees!, I sweat them to the ground with my ball cap and smash them with my foot!, I've killed like thirty in the last 3 days!, I will build these and try them out!. Good video!
Thanks! I hope these will do well for you and fix the bee issues.
Thanks for DIY tip. I've been trying to get rid these Carpenter Bees for Months.
Thanks! I hope they work well for you! :) I found it helps to put the traps up and just wait. When the bees are active, It may take a few days before you catch the first bee after that more quickly follow. It also helps to plug the existing holes the bees are currently living in. The bees will look for a new hole before chewing a new one. Good luck!
My husband batted them with a badminton racket. Probably didn't kill them but it kept him busy.
haha, love it!
good video, and I liked the project....In the past I've used either a tennis racket or a racketball racket to knock them out of the air....then step on them before they can get away.
Gonna have to build a few of these. I have found that a badminton racket works perfectly for swatting/cheese slicing carpenter bees. Also keeps me in good form for my game;-)
Haha love it!!
In close quarters I use one of those aluminum pie pans that comes with a pie from the grocery store. Makes a nice sound when it connects with the pesky things.
@@StutleyConstable That's great! Clever Idea! :)
The bees are a small problem compared to the piliated woodpecker that digs them out of the wood.
True
Do you sell the traps/wood blocks? I don’t want to buy the tools but would love to try them out! They look great and quite clever!
Lowes
Is there something you can put in the jar to attract them?
No that I know of. I did notice that once a bee used the trap I started to catch many more bees. They probably can smell the sent of other bees and that may attract them to the trap. Also some types of wood may work better than others. Is seems like they prefer dry wood and avoid new/fresh pressure treated lumber.
Put a dead bee inside the trap
@@BobBob-il2ku or rub a dead bee on the entrance hole and over the trap so they smell it
There is carpenter bee bait available. Google it!
When I changed the fascia a few years ago, which was 1x4" red cedar 12' long installed about 30-33 yrs ago, I found full length parallel tunnels in the boards made by carpenter bees, one board had 5 such tunnels, others 2 or 3. The bees overwinter in the tunnels and emerge in the spring and re-use the same tunnels year after year. Used Hardie board to replace. There can be 6-8-10 bees in one tunnel over wintering.
Thanks! If left alone they can cause serious damage if they are drilling into a load baring frame.
we call them condo bees. haaaa
Take WD-40 with the straw nozzle and spray in there. It kills them, I once got one drilling into the porch. I sprayed WD in there, and it buzzed like crazy in there, and backed out of the hole and fell to the ground. Just one more use for WD40. Bug killer!!
What are you putting in the bee holes?
Calking. I found that they chew right through the water based calking but types like silicone they don’t like to chew through.
Can I suggest using a T-nut for the set screws.
That would be a good improvement!
Thanks!
@@SimonSaysDIY I'm so looking forward to building some of these on my house, my neighbors tell me there are a lot of carpenter bees in my area. My house is new so an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
I will make YOUR trap ahead of the need. I had ONE carpenter bee in my painted wood the first year, and then 4 the next year. I swear they tell their friends (no proof). All 4 were faster than I was swinging a broom; soon they were smart enough to stay 6 feet away from me. Finally, I had to sit like a statue, minimal eye-contact, wait for them to enter the hole, then jump up and SPRAY a wasp-killing spray in the hole. Then fill the hole with putty, sand, paint. Repeated 3 more times. NO bees for two years now (does this prove my theory?)
Thanks for the tip! 😄
@@SimonSaysDIY since writing this, I am very sorry. Carpenter bees are pollinators, but don't make honey. They don't sting. Alternative methods are available to us. Paper bag, fake wasp nests or noise from wind chimes, etc. OUR bee population is in trouble in the USA.
Nice design. A suggestion - for the set screw, if you off set it so it runs in at a tangent along the side of the bottle, not as likely to break from tightening.
Yeah that’s a great idea! Thanks for the suggestion.
@@SimonSaysDIY - You're using pressure treated wood in the video - carpenter bees usually avoid pressure treated wood. Always use "softwood" like pine, fir, etc. (not hardwood), and use either well weathered wood or new unpainted, untreated wood.
@@Rattlerjake1 My deck is treated and the bees love it!
@@johnnellis3025 - The video show "NEW" pressure treated wood being used, which means it smells and tastes bad to the bees. A deck, depending on the age, will have weathered and lost much of that deterrent, especially if it hasn't been painted or stained since being built. Pressure-treating doesn't protect the wood forever.
Use two screws and thread it in? No screwdriver needed to remove. Cut the top of a plastic cap off and glue it in? One hole on each side of the bottle with a "U" shape wire pushed in below the lip? Rubber tube friction fit?
Here's a suggestion using a clear plastic bottle instead of a glass bottle and a set screw. I use A "Hint brand" flavored water bottle because it has a wider mouth and a classic bottle shape. Carefully drill out the bottle top cap and drill a comparable size hole in the bottom of your trap. I drill a 1 1/8 inch hole up the middle of my 4x4. Then I use a step drill bit to make the hole large enough to accommodate the bottle top. Gently tap the bottle top into the hole and friction will keep it secure. Then all you have to do is screw the plastic bottle into the cap. You might want to practice with a separate piece of wood to perfect the technique. I like this method because it doesn't risk breaking glass and the overall bee trap is lighter.
Bart Bartlett he stated early in the video why he is using a glass bottle. He was using plastic before but he wanted something a little more attractive hanging on his porch.
@@audioeeze8396but broken glass is not very aesthetic. Function over aesthetics is personal choice. We who comment are sharing opinions, dont be mr I'll correct everyone guy.
@@arthurdavis1065 Broken glass? What are you even talking about? As you try to correct everyone. No one likes a hypocrite.
Thanks for the great practical information to a real problem I have. They are everywhere in Michigan now - 4/3/21 and I expect them until the next hard frost
I’m glad my video could help. Thanks!!
They liked the pressure treated wood of our deck and railings. No such bees where I now live in Alaska but bad in Michigan. If I still lived there I would make a couple of these. Good idea.
I loved how you batted those bees outta there. "BATTER UP!"
hahaha thanks!!
When I was younger, me and my neighbors used tennis rackets. Good times.
@@mattmurphy1065 Badminton rackets work best. Very light.
They usually hang around telephone poles.... just plant one a few ft away... you save a bee that also helps FLOWERS seeds grow. ... they help bloom your flowers for Easter n all thru summer....think about that!!!!! Thx ✌️
Cool vid. Like the bee bat also🤓
Thanks!
what did you use to fill the holes?
White caulking. You can use several different kinds but the bees doesn’t seem to like white silicone.
@@SimonSaysDIY Thanks
I use wood putty.
@@Tommyr that would work and blend in with the raw or stained wood.
Instead of the superlong anchor screw and wood filler, how about a backside hanger tab or recessed key hole hanger? A slope on the top surface would shed rain water and moisture better.
Great ideas! Those should be great improvements. Mine were covered by a roof so a angle wasn’t needed. Thanks!!
When emptying the trapped bees, I always put one dead one back into the bottle. That seems to attract the next bees,quickly.
I REALLY enjoyed your Batting practice option ( in your down time, of course )
Thanks!!
I like to use a tennis racket. Knock them to the ground and then stomp and twist. No license required yet!
The trick to these traps is to get them up early, as soon as possible once the weather starts to warm. You need to catch the females before they start laying eggs. The males, which are the ones you see most of the time zooming around are relatively harmless and catching them is not all that helpful because more males will come. If you catch and kill the females you will quickly eliminate the population and the females come out first and start burrowing. So get the traps out ASAP, if you are in Northern climates get them cleaned up and put out as soon as freezing weather ends. As long as the traps don't freeze up and burst, you are OK putting them out.
Good tip. Luckily, I left mine out since last year.
Thanks! 😄
males breed don't they? stupid comment
Any bait in the jar?
Nope. They are just attracted to the hole. 😅
So I just built a dozen of these, (before seeing your video), and I can tell I made a bunch of mistakes. Here they are, in no particular order:
1.) I put a quantity of 4, 1/2" diagonal holes going into the main vertical hole, 0ne per block face, (which means that the bees has three other choices to not die in).
2.) I used wide mouthed bottles that had tin lids stapled to the block, allowing wide access to the hole going back out!
3.) I missed out on the reason to buy 3 quad packs of IBC sodas, (some of the best on the planet)!
4.) WD-40 for taking the adhesive off the bottle?!? Now that was worth watching your video for all by itself!
This explains why my prototype was so phenomenally unsuccessful at catching the little wood munchers.
Did I see you caulking up the existing holes the carpenter bees left?
Also, what size Forstner bit did you use for the bottle? 3/4"?
Thanks for posting this. I may be able to salvage my blocks with 1/2" dowel pegs stuffed in the extra holes and replace the wide-mouths with soda bottles if the main vertical hole is 3/4", (which is what mine are).
Looks like it's rework time for my traps! Thanks for posting this!
haha, well I have heard of traps with that design working but it may depend on the bees in your area. A few things that I found helps attract the bees to the trap is:
- Filling any existing holes with calking or wooden dowels causes the bees to search for a new hold before making a new one.
- Placing dead bees in the jar before hanging up. I noticed that it took a long time for the first be to be caught in the trap but then many more started to use the trap. they may be attracted to the scent of other bees.
- Placing the traps on a frequent place the bees search. I watched the bees and they seemed to search the side of the rafters and especially at the corners of the roof.
to answer your questions, yes I used caulking to plug the holes. a few times they chewed through the caulk but I just filled it back up again. As for the size of the Forstner bit I used, I believe it was 1 inch. But depending on the bottle you may need a larger size.
Good luck with your traps!
Thanks for watching!
@@SimonSaysDIY FYI if you (only) caulk up the holes, it will not kill a bee in there, nor will it kill the eggs that have been laid. Make sure to put poison in the hole first 👍
What size drill for the large hole?
1/2 inch. that is the size the bees naturally drill.
Thanks!
@@SimonSaysDIY What is the other drill size, for the bottle top?
@@johnnellis3025 Whatever you need for the bottle neck. :)
I believe it was a 1in but it depends on the size of bottle you use.
Soda bottles don’t vary that much. Let me help y’all out. A typical US threaded plastic bottle throat is a breath over 1”. Would have been nice to have that as a starting point in the presentation. Always measure twice cut once.
Nice job and it looks great!
How about using either using a plastic screw, or adding a thin bead of hot glue or a rubber band around the top of the bottle or at the tip of the steel screw to act as a bumper between the bottle and set screw? I might make the block a bit higher, and I'd use natural wood, not pressure-treated, if available.
You can also decorate the bottle with paint or self-stick appliques that will still allow plenty of light in and block the sight f dead bees. You could even turn the unit into a lamp for after dark by winding a solar wire and seed LED light set around the outside of the glass and hot-gluing into place!
Thanks for the tips! 😄
I made 2 last year with treated 4x4s and the carpenter bees wouldn't go inside. The drier the block of wood the better. Nice job!
We use a badminton racquet to whack them, or butterfly net to catch & squash, plus traps. Your trap idea is the easiest to build that I've seen so far! Great job! When we empty our traps we have to empty into a clear bag bcz some are still alive & then we squash them. Using your bottle trap, people could just put the cap back on and throw away. Maybe use a plastic bottle & cap.
Thanks! I really appreciate the feedback! :)
Put one inch of water- Dawn in bottle
He mentions in the begining of his video that he is trying to get away from plastic bottle and prefers the more astitic clear glass bottle.
I've been buying and using carpenter bee traps for several years now and the main problem with them is getting bees to go into them initially if it's a new trap. Once a dead bee or two is trapped, the scent will attract more but it can take a while to get the initial bee "seed" trapped. What I did this year was get some bee attractant off amazon and it worked AMAZINGLY well but my traps fro last year are falling apart so I may just DIY a few more this year. I've got plenty of spare wood.
Also, we have a $1 per bee bounty at my house so the kids will be out there with tennis racquets going to town.
Build a fake wasp nest from a paper bag stuffed with paper, plastic bags from store, etc. The bees will stay away and no need to kill them.
Thats really cool! I will have to try that!
Thanks!
Tried that does NOT work they bored right through that roughed up paper bag
I personally like using my badminton racquets. Got one in 4 different locations ready and loaded! Better than the bat you showcased. But, Like the traps too! I might need to take the time and do this one. 3 barns, and a 50 foot cedar deck, and carport. I mix two kinds of sprays every year to keep them away.
This idea is AMAZING!! Great video!
Thanks!
I have those bees every where, NOW I know how to trap them. Million thanks.
Carpenter bees are destroying my outdoor stair railing. Going to give this try.
You have to treat the railing first.
Good luck! I would fill any holes already Bering used by the bees if you can, this will prevent further damage and it will help the bees find the hole on the trap instead of all the others. Thanks for watching!
Paint/seal your wood and they'll leave it bee (pun intended)
@@bingo6073 it is painted. That doesn’t work.
I’ll be trying this. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks! 😁 You’re very welcome 👍🏻
since they actually pollinate more plants than honeybees, you can build them a nesting box away from your house and shop and they will still help your garden and flowers to flourish
Building structures and saving money is greater than pollinating your flowers
@@jheiny1231 there are lots of fruits and vegetables that need to be pollinated. Apples, zukini and pumpkins are just a few.
@@BS.-.- i get that. But the bees are destroying your property and costing me money. And not allowing my family to enjoy our backyard. So that problem is greater than keeping bees around to pollinate
We did that and works good. Got anything for yellow flys?
We have a chronic problem with carpenter bees, so I am definitely going to give this a try. :)
Yeah, if left alone they can cause extensive damage over the course of a few years. It worked well for us! Good luck with yours! It helps to plug any existing holes you see. That well make them search for a new one.
Left some comments about your bees... hope it helps
@@nancysmith9487 Where?
@@pulaski1 in comments under, if make honey. .
@@nancysmith9487 These bees _don't_ make honey, they are solitary wood-boring bees, that are very destructive, and very common in the SE USA. I wish them no ill in general, but, like most other people posting here, I have no qualms about trapping and killing those that want to eat my home.
Oh, and I looked all the way to the end of the comments and didn't see your post about honey, or under anyone else's post about honey.
How do you empty it?
Just back the screw out slightly and the bottle will come right out. Thanks!
It probably bee better if we didnt kill them... One way you can prevent them from coming to your house is making sure everything is well painted and no open wood is on your house, silicone on cracks, and putting up a carpenter bee house away from your home by some flowers are all really nice methods to keep them from attacking your home without straight up killing then... Also if you leave the bottles there, the dead bees pheromones will attract more.... It a good trap design though.
Thanks! That is really helpful! I'll have to try some of those!
bee bleeding heart and probably a tree hugger too
@@triumphmanful Bee-hold, a wife beater who doesn't care for the environment
today is 3/27/23 Will you sell these? I am unable to DIY one as I have no tools. If so, how could
I get one from you.
Use one of those bug zapper rackets! Lol
Yeah, that would be a lot easier than trying to smack them with a board. :)
A cheap badminton racket, electronics aren't necessary.
A small tennis racket or badminton racket also works very well to swing at bees with. The holes are slightly smaller than the bees
Thanks for the tip! :)
3/8" drill is the right size hole. That is the size the bee makes. I make mine with a 3/8" drill. I also add water in the bottle, about 2 inches. Add a eye let to the top and hang it with an "S" hook. Also if you want to hit them try a tennis racket, bad mitten racket and even a racket ball racket. The males can sting you.
Super helpful, Thanks! I believe my bees here were drilling holes a bit bigger than that but thanks for the great suggestions!
I was plugging the holes with dowel rod pieces, and found that 3/8" was too loose, and 7/16" was needing a little sharpening to get started in the hole. So, I determined that the holes were 10mm... Just proves my thought that that carpenter bees are a commie plot, since all the communist countries are metric, not SAE. 😎
males do not sting
@@genebond all posters say 1/2 inch entry holes and 1 inch main bottle hole is the best
Would it work with a plastic bottle?
I use mason jars. Nail the lid to the 4x4 and screw the jar to the lid. I sell a butt load of them.
Love it!
I use jars so the bees will fall freely to the bottom. Never had any fly back out. Caught 100 last year with six traps
Nice! 😁
Leave some bees caught in the trap. Their pheromones may attract even more bees.
Thanks!!
Smart. Looking forward on making one, or two.. 👍
Bee bat. I love it. I am professional. I invite the bees to a "board" meeting.
Hahaha! Thanks!
Badminton racquets work great on carpenter bees. Very satisfying when you send one flying!
@@daveg5729 I'll have to try that!! :)
I have no idea how I ended up here? I dont have bees, but still watched! lol
Hahaha 🤣 thanks for watching!
Carpenter bees are important pollinators of many flowering plants found in our gardens, natural areas, and on farms. In fact, 15% of our agricultural crops are pollinated by native bees such as carpenter bees. Because of how hugely beneficial they are to local ecosystems, many beekeepers say it's important to safely move them instead. Carpenter Bees are naturally repelled by the smell of citrus, it can be tempting to simply exterminate them, but you should take a more peaceful route.
Tough Shit Green Guy, I Kill em ALL
WRONG. I LIVE NEAR ONION FIELDS AND APPLE ORCHARDS. NONE OF THESE BEES ARE THERE POLLINATING ! ONLY HONEY BEES ! I HAVE VIDEOS TO PROVE IT !
My choice for bee bopping is using a badminton racket, lots of surface area, light weight and makes a satisfying sound when carpenter bees are struck.. try it out. Find rackets at Goodwill and pay $1 each.
I do need to try that out!
Killing carpenter bees is a mistake They are important pollinators for all of your flowering plants and fruit trees. If you want to keep them away from your building frame work mix up a quart of liquid plumber/caustic soda, with 4 quarts of water. Paint your deck framing material with it and let it dry, stain over the material with a color of your choice, This will lock in the caustic and repel all wood drilling bugs with out killing them.
Thanks for the tip! 😄
Letting carpenter bees destroy your porch Rafters or back deck Rafters, carport rafters, or your overall home or garage is an even bigger mistake.
I put a mason jar on the bottom. The rim is screwed to wood and then you put about 1 inch of sugar water in jar. Hang up and catch bees. I was a bit skeptical but within an hour I had several in one and one in another. After about 3 weeks I had a total of 14. No more squirting WD-40 in the holes. That method did work but you had to search out each hole and that took a lot of time.
Nice!! Thanks for the tip!
I've seen this at a client's home. He made it himself. Very effective.
These can work surprisingly well!
I saw like 10-12 bees but pretty much same consept. Genius trap.
Love. That. That. Bottle would look good battery operated lights in the bottle and hang up it would look cool. Thanks for sharing God bless
Thanks so much! 😁
Excellent. $20 per cheapo retail trap, I’d much rather make my own. Thanks.
Yeah these are simple and easy to make! Glad it could help!
When we were kidz we used Gumout and a zippo. We loved the smell of Gumout in the evening.
Nice!
I sit on my deck and shoot them with the grandson's Red Ryder BB gun. Keeps me in shape for wing shooting when hunting season rolls around. Tip: Buy plenty of BBs.
Awesome! I use to have one growing up. They are a blast and don't cause any damage if you hit the deck :)
🤣
🙄
I torch em lol kinda fun but dangerous as well! Also use them for aim shooting paintballs at em as well but don’t worry be trying this as well thanks
Haha sounds fun! :)
Carpenter bees drill a perfect 1/4" hole i/2" deep. To bad my cheap drill won't do this?
Thanks for watching!
They make 1/2" holes.
@@Tommyr 1/2"? Maybe yours are on steroids. Mine make 1/4" and can be sealed easily with a 1/4" wood plug
@@bill72pa Look at all the traps, the drill 1/2" holes. But yes, I've seen typically 1/4" to slightly larger holes made from them.
We use to make little projectile with rubber band and shoot at them as kids. If we were lucky we get one that can fly, remove their sting, and tie sewing thread around it's neck and fly them around. We did this to all form of insects. The fav was the Japanese beetle or the dragon flies.