You can target wasps while avoiding honey bees by choosing the right trap and placement.

• Pick targeted traps: Look for products labeled for wasps, yellowjackets, hornets, or carpenter bees. Many are designed to be less attractive to honey bees.
• Use careful baiting: Skip honey. In warm months, sweet liquids can attract wasps; in spring, some traps work with protein-based lures. Always follow the trap’s directions.
• Place smartly: Hang traps 10–20 feet from dining and play areas, and away from flowering plants and known bee hives.
• Maintain regularly: Check, clean, and refresh bait as directed, and keep traps out of reach of kids and pets.

You’ll see a few common names on this page, each aimed at a specific pest or method.

• Wasp/yellowjacket/hornet trap: Lured traps that attract stinging wasps (often not honey bees) to a container.
• Carpenter bee trap: Wood-style devices that mimic nesting holes and funnel carpenter bees inside without bait.
• Sticky wasp trap: Cylinders or panels coated with adhesive to catch flying insects outdoors.
• Solar/UV light trap: Uses light to draw night-active insects toward an entry point.
• Lure or bait refills: The attractants used inside reusable traps.

“Bee catcher” on retail pages often refers to wasp/yellowjacket traps or carpenter bee traps rather than honey bee capture.

A long-term approach blends trapping with simple habitat and behavior changes.

1. Start early: Set out targeted wasp or yellowjacket traps in spring to help reduce activity as the season builds.
2. Manage attractants: Keep trash sealed, cover outdoor food and drinks, and rinse recyclables to limit sugary scents.
3. Protect your structure: For carpenter bees, seal old holes (after they’re inactive), paint or finish exposed wood, and mount carpenter bee traps near past activity.
4. Place strategically: Keep traps around the yard perimeter, not right where you relax.
5. Know when to call pros: For established honey bee colonies, consider contacting a licensed professional or local beekeeping group for relocation guidance.

Results can vary by season and location, so adjust as needed.

The right bait depends on the pest and time of year.

• Yellowjackets/hornets: In spring, protein-based attractants can work well; late summer into fall, sweet liquids (like sugar water or fruit juice) are commonly used. Some people add a small splash of vinegar to reduce honey bee interest, but always follow trap directions.
• Carpenter bees: Most carpenter bee traps don’t need bait; their design mimics nesting tunnels.
• Light or sticky traps: These rely on UV light or adhesive surfaces rather than bait.

Avoid using honey, which may draw honey bees. Refresh or replace bait as recommended, and expect effectiveness to vary with local conditions.

Good placement can make a noticeable difference.

• Height and distance: Hang traps about 4–6 feet high and 10–20 feet away from patios, grills, and play areas.
• Away from flowers: Keep traps off flowering plants and far from known bee hives to limit honey bee interest.
• Perimeter focus: Place along fence lines, near property edges, or where you see wasp traffic.
• Shade and wind: Partial shade helps keep bait fresh; placing traps downwind of activity can improve draw.
• Carpenter bee traps: Mount under eaves or near previous drilling sites. No bait is typically needed.

Always follow the trap’s instructions and keep units secure and out of reach of children and pets.