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
I used my trap last year and it was new, this year it is weathered, does that matter?
@XC – We would examine the trap and make sure everything is installed properly. Is the green roof tight? Is the receptacle door closed? It is odd that the bee left as Carpenter Bees are not good fliers unless it wasn’t a carpenter bee?
i put two traps out about two weeks and found one carpenter bee within one trap once, the bee was disappeared next day. so i think the carpenter bee could escape from the trap. do you have any explanation?
@Ron Scott – The best method is to mount, if possible. If the trap is swinging a lot, we recommend hanging it in a location where it can only swing two directions, not 4. If it is hanging, it will still work just takes a bit longer.
Does it matter the trap hangs by the chain but swings some? Will it still attracted them?