DIY Carpenter Bee Trap

In this video I demonstrate how to make a simple Carpenter Bee trap from salvaged materials. This is not entirely my idea. I viewed a couple of video on KZbin showing how to make a similar trap. I thought I might be able to improve on the design and maybe offer a little more information as to why this design works. My original design was much more complicated, but worked just fine. Please make note that this trap is not intended for anything but Carpenter Bees. They are very destructive of wood structures and are not major pollinators. I raise honey bees and am very concerned about the condition of any major pollinating species. Thanks for watching my video and if you like them, please hit "Like" and subscribe to my channel..

[@tzavitz]

I made a few of these and hung them under my deck...within a few hours I had 5 bees, and more today. Great project and they work!

[@CaptMike]

Thanks You for watching!

[@bambamnj]

You don't have to have a 4x4. You can take a couple of scrap pieces of 2x4 and just use some wood glue and glue them together. just put the glue on one side of each piece of 2x4 and then clamp them together and let it sit over night. two 2x4s glued together will give you the 4x4 that you need. if you cut the scrap pieces to size before you glue them, then you'll be set to just drill the holes once you've allowed the glue to dry.

[@CaptMike]

That will work also!

[@Anonymous-it5jw]

Great idea, great instructions, great video.

[@CaptMike]

Thanks for watching!

[@zayleelindsey5740]

Thank you so much, this was so easy and fun to make!

[@CaptMike]

Thanks for watching!

[@zayleelindsey5740]

@@CaptMike Yep, np we had to make one for summer school 🏫

[@zayleelindsey5740]

In my trap, I caught over 14 in just 4 days!! I am Amazed!!

[@CaptMike]

@@zayleelindsey5740 I'm glad it worked for you. Thanks for watching!

[@stanleykeith6969]

for the bee hole I use a 3/8" hole at a 45* I found out that is the size the female bee makes. Thanks for you video.

[@andrewsmith5340]

I don't use pressure treated wood because I never seen them in that type of wood. I like to use pine, or white oak. Great video I'm going to make some like yours thank you.

[@CaptMike]

Thanks for watching!

[@xpert1111]

1. Carpenter bees do not eat wood so pressure treated will not be a problem. 2. The holes in the PT wood are already established so the bees would be attracted to the hole to lay their eggs. Not the type of wood.

[@bltefft]

@@xpert1111 - I used treated 4x4's to make mine, and they work. Like you said, the wood isn't a food source, it's a place for the female carpenter bees to lay their eggs.,

[@donaldsonfarms]

This seems like a good basic trap.

[@CaptMike]

Thanks for watching.

[@billsiebel9941]

Great video. Very well explained. Keep up the great work.

[@CaptMike]

Thank you for watching!

[@lesliehunt2117]

Good one Michael!!

[@nmartin5551]

Ok. Second top favorite!

[@1fastoffshoreracer]

Thank you for sharing, I can't wait to try this as I have a really bad Carpenter Bee problem. They're drilling holes all over my Redwood siding.

[@CaptMike]

let ME KNOW HOW IT TURNS OUT. i HAVE HAD EXCELLENT SUCCESS WITH THE TRAPS.

[@1fastoffshoreracer]

How many traps would you suggest for a L shaped ranch house with solid Redwood siding. My house has become a Carpenter Bee buffet, the sprays don't work I think they just act like special sauce for tastier wood. Thank you and I'll let you know how the catching goes.

[@CaptMike]

As many as you can make! They are always around any exposed wood I have. Every time I see one trying to bore a hole, I hang a trap there. That might not be possible for you, but in the meantime get yourself a tube of latex calk and seal up every hole you see.....Oh, and a case of really good wasp & hornet killer. For fun, a bad mitten racket works great. I think the 20 gauge shotgun was a little overkill!

[@user-me5gg7pf2d]

very good

[@CaptMike]

Thank you!

[@CaptMike]

I had someone comment here apout my traps. It was not a positive comment, but that is OK. I responded by correcting the very poor spelling and grammer not to show any superiority, but to possibley educate. I ended thanking the commentor for there contribution, but it looks like KZbin of someone deleated the post, Is this normal?

[@jz2028]

Does the size of the block matter? Thanks!

[@CaptMike]

No, it should not matter. The catch is to slant the light cannot be detected by the bees. They will enter on of the holes and go for the light in the bottle.

[@jz2028]

@@CaptMike Thanks!

[@palehorse1021]

AIr soft gun works well as well.

[@tinkie]

quik money rite , ?? if yu got bee problems go educate urself, go paint ur ded wood, they don't bore threw live wood .take ur kids and build houses for them so they stay away . maybe yu men don't care , but we need these bees beside the honey bees they are the last pollinaters in our country. you all make me sik… .

[@CaptMike]

"Quick money, right? If you have bee problems, educate yourself. Paint your dead wood. Take your kids and build houses for them (are we talking about the bees or the kids?) so they will stay away. Maybe you men don't care, but we need these bees. Besides, the honey bees are the last pollinators in our country. You all make me sick." First, your are more than welcome to your opinion on my channel. Second, painting your exposed wood will only make it a little more difficult for the Carpenter Bees to drill. They will still bore holes. It's a breeding thing! Thirdly, building houses for this species will not solve the proble. Carpenter bees are born to drill....that is what they do. Excellent idea to do something with your childern though. forthly, what do you mean by "men don't care"? Is this a sexest thing? And last, I raise bees. Don't tell me about pollinators or the plight of the honey bee. Bees in general are not the only pollinators. Please do a little reasearch. Education is a great thing! Thanks for watching, Capt Mike

[@barrywallace4415]

Tink ie! Kleenex will help you