A carpenter bee will approach our carpenter bee trap when it is looking for a new nest. This typically occurs in the spring. The unfinished softwood exterior and specifically sized entrance holes appeal to a searching carpenter bee. Once the carpenter bee enters the trap, it will drop into the turbo funnel, which it can’t escape. Carpenter bees cannot fly directly up, nor can they walk up the plastic components in the trap. Now the carpenter bee is truly stuck!
Once dead, the bee releases a scent and pheromone that will attract more carpenter bees to the nest. The more dead carpenter bees, the stronger the attractive smell of the trap and the better the trap works.
So, if you want to bait the trap, all you need to do is place a dead carpenter bee in the bottom receptacle of the trap. One other solution to jump-start your carpenter bee trap is our BEE-Licious Bee Bait.
Simply apply a dime-sized amount of our Bee Bait to the inside of the receptacle and hang your trap!
Carpenter Bee Trap Bait FAQs
Have questions about optimizing your trap? Find answers to our most commonly asked questions below.
Q: How do I apply the BEE-Licious Bee Bait? How much do I use?
A: The BEE-Licious Bee Bait can be applied in two ways. You can add a small dab to the bottom plastic container of the trap or squirt it into the trap through the bee entrance holes. The bait will run down a little, but the scent will dry in the trap.
Q: How long does the BEE-Licious Bee Bait last?
A: For best results year after year, we recommend a fresh tube to bait your traps at the start of each season.
Q: Do you have to reapply the carpenter bee bait? If so, how often do you reapply it?
A: Once your traps start catching carpenter bees, you do not need to reapply the bait.
Q: If I empty my trap, do I have to reapply more bee bait?
A: You do not need to apply more when you empty the trap. It will work without the bait. But if you see the bees reacting well to the bait, then keep up the applications for the best results.
Q: How does the application work? Do I need to use something to apply it?
A: You don't need to use anything to apply the bait. You can just squeeze the bait right onto the trap. On traps with plastic collection chambers, add the bait to the bait cup. On our Turbo Trap, squeeze onto the small circle marked bee bait.
Q: Is it safe on my skin?
A: Even though the bee bait is made with natural ingredients and is not harmful to your skin, we recommend washing your hands directly after use.
Q: Why won't carpenter bees go in the trap?
A: Trouble getting bees to go into your trap? There are a few reasons why this may occur. Make sure there are active nests, double-check the trap location, and be patient.
Article Comments
@Lauren – The bee bait should really only attract carpenter bees. The bait is formulated to mimic the pheromone carpenter bees release. We do have reports of wasps being attracted and traped in the best bee traps but more with luck than anything. We have different products to attract or deter wasps (https://bestbeebrothers.com/collections/wasp-traps). ~Customer Support
My traps are working without bait, but I have SO many bees that I’m buying this to draw them away from my house & into the traps. Will this attract anything else to my yard (like wasps)? I don’t want that to happen.
@Andy Balsai – Bumble Bees should not be attracted to the carpenter bee trap since they nest differently. The bumble bee is a social bee and lives in an underground colony. Living underground allows them to avoid overheating and direct sunlight. If you do happen to have some bumble bees randomly entering the trap, we recommend emptying the trap to get them out. ~Customer Support
Do bumble bees ever get caught in the carpenter bee traps? It looks like I got a few. Don’t want to do that😉
@Joseph Wallace – As long as everything intact (i.e. New holes, roof not fully closed) a weathered Best Bee Trap is perfectly fine! In fact, it could work even better since it has been exposed to the environment making it a “natural” smell rather than fresh new pine.