Carpenter Bee Traps (Upgraded)

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Bearcarver

Gone but not forgotten RIP
Original poster
OTBS Member
Group Lead
Sep 12, 2009
45,279
18,182
Macungie, PA
Carpenter Bee Traps (UPGRADED)

Some of you saw my original "Carpenter Bee Trap" post.
I mentioned in that thread that the only problem I had found was that wasps build nests in the top section of those old traps.

Here is a link to that thread. That thread also has a lot more explanation about Carpenter Bees.

You can go to that thread through this link:

http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/t/106345/carpenter-bee-traps-work-great-update-june-15-2011



I mentioned in that thread that I was going to make the roof removable so I could clean the wasp nests out during the off-season.

We did some experimenting, and found that if you use a solid piece of wood, instead of a "birdhouse" type trap, that the wasps won't have a place to build their nests inside.

This upgraded Carpenter Bee Trap uses that idea.

I could have used Pressure treated wood, but I opted to use Cedar, because the color matched my Log House much better.
The only drawback is the expense. I paid $41 for an 8' long 4 X 4.
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Not really that bad, because I got 18 traps out of that one 8' long piece.

My pictures & captions explain most of the building of the traps, but I'd be glad to answer any questions anyone has.

I hope this will help at least a few of you to get rid of your Carpenter Bees from your houses & buildings.


Thanks for looking,
Bear




Cedar 4" X 4" X 8'----marking for cutting:



Cut into 9 blocks (Note my waste on top of the stack):



Cut blocks in half at 30˚ for roof:



Drill bottom holes for bottle caps, to the depth of the bottle caps, with Forstner Bit:



Ready equal parts of "PC-7" epoxy (good stuff):



Epoxy all mixed up:



Scrape epoxy all the way around entrance of holes:



Shove bottle caps all the way to bottom of holes:



I did this to all 18 future traps:



Then I drilled a 1" hole through caps to a depth of 3" from bottom of the traps:



After drilling 1/2" holes on both sides & front to meet the 1" bottom hole at 3", I mounted double screw hangers:



18 Bee Traps being inspected:
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Finished Upgraded Carpenter Bee Trap close-up.

Also drill a small hole in the bottom of the bottles so rainwater doesn't accumulate:



These traps are not as ugly on my house as the original traps were:



This is one of the old ones, ready to be replaced.
They were just plain old rough cut skid pine (FREE WOOD):


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I'm surprised they are interested in your cedar siding. A lot of insects are repelled by cedar. Good idea on the traps!
Thanks Todd !!!

My whole house is Pine. The only thing Cedar is my traps. I used Cedar, so I don't have to paint them with preservative, like I do my house.

However Carpenter Bees have no problem with Cedar, or any other relatively Soft Wood. They don't eat the wood.

They never bothered my logs. They drill holes in Soffit, Facia, and other dimensional lumber. I think it's because the logs are all Heartwood. Every log is the center of a tree, and the cell structure is too small for their tunnels. The cell structure of the dimensional lumber is much larger, because much of it is from the outer part of the tree (sapwood).

Bear
 
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Bear

Looks like a easy way to handle the pest.

Thanks for sharing.

Happy smoken.

David
Thanks David !!!

I must be catching up. I was catching over 200 each year. Then less than 200 last year, and only 30 or 40 so far this year, and the season is about over.

Bear
 
Thanks Bear I will have to do up some of those this winter for next spring...I hate those things and I am wrapped up with them around here...
 
Thanks , they are not that good for eating , and you get stung sometimes,
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 , but they get that bad her now and then , especally on 'Trash" Day
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 .

But it's cool to see them land on a baited FireBox... I put a bit of sweet Koolaide in a metal can(short) and set it up on the FB... when they land on the box to locate the goodies, they melt... right there. COOL
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Thanks Bear I will have to do up some of those this winter for next spring...I hate those things and I am wrapped up with them around here...
Go get 'em, Roller!!!

They work best on the South, SE, and SW of the building, and the peaks are better than down low.

Bear
 
Hey Bear!  I loved the original traps and the new and improved version looks event better!  Great to see you workinig on projects again!  KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.

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Bear,

What happens with these traps.....they just crawl in and can't get out?' Plastic bottle too slippery??

Thanks
RG
Yup,

These are the things I originally wondered:

Why do they go in the holes?

Lazy Bees---Why drill if there's already a hole started.

Why can't they fly out of the bottle?

Too narrow at the top of the bottle to fly out.

Why don't they walk out?

Too slippery.

Bear
 
Hey Bear!  I loved the original traps and the new and improved version looks event better!  Great to see you workinig on projects again!  KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.

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Thanks Frosty !!

Yeah, the old traps worked real good, but these are smaller & match my house, and I no longer have to deal with the wasp nests every year. They filled the whole top inside the old traps.

Bear
 
BEE TRAP UPDATE !!

OK guys, I just took my traps down for the Winter, and I now have a running total per year:

2009-----------------Over 200 Carpenter Bees.
2010-----------------Over 200 Carpenter Bees.
2011-----------------140 Carpenter Bees.
2012-----------------105 Carpenter Bees.
2013-----------------51 Carpenter Bees.

I think I'm catching up on these little Buggers!!!

Bear
 
Glad I saw this, those dang things are making Swiss cheese out of my deck joists. I will definitely bee building some of those this winter. You can beelieve that.
 
Bear, is there anything you CAN'T do???? I expect plans soon for a nuclear fired smoker from you......

Ummm....just joking NSA......lol
 
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