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Yellowjacket Wasp Trap
- Can be used to alter scavenger wasp activity -
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Summary: Yellowjacket wasp traps are not particularly useful for eliminating nests but can be used as decoys to temporarily move wasp activity away from outdoor events.
Jack DeAngelis, PhD
OSU Ext. Entomologist (ret.)
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Synthetic attractants vs. sweets and proteins
 Certain yellowjacket wasps (wasp family: Vespidae, genus: Vespula) are attracted to a number of different lures that can be used to trap these insects. Both meat (protein)-based and sugar-based foods are attractive to certain species, at certain times of the year.
Yellowjacket wasps that are attracted to non-living food baits are referred to as scavenger, or pest, species. Most yellowjackets, on the other hand, are strictly predatory and only attracted to live prey. A few species can also be lured by a synthetic chemical called n-heptyl butyrate which mimics the odor of fruit. Heptyl butyrate is especially useful in the western US for the western yellowjacket, Vespula pensylvanica.
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commercial yellowjacket trap that uses heptyl butyrate
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Can traps eliminate wasp nests?
No. Traps are most effective as decoys to temporarily move wasp activity away from human activity such as a backyard picnic. Traps are not effective for permanently eliminating wasp nests. Even mass-trapping with multiple traps is generally not effective for eliminating nests. Yellowjacket traps are also not useful for European paper wasp, and other paper wasps.
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Wasp decoys
Use either food-based traps or ones that use the synthetic lures. You'll probably need several traps placed on the border of your outdoor activity area. Place traps early in the day to "train" wasps away from the area. Recharge traps with fresh attractant each time you need to set up your decoys. After the party you can take down the traps, place them in the freezer for a day to kill any wasps inside then empty and clean. Be careful when approaching traps.
Here's a printable guide to: using wasp traps as decoys (pdf). You'll need Acrobat Reader or equivalent to open this pdf file.
Related information: [yellowjacket common names], [wasp, bee and ant stings], [safely eliminating nests], [frequently asked questions]
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Use combination trap and attractant (left) for wasps attracted by synthetic lures. Place traps outside, near where you'll need them, a few days before the outdoor event. The traps should start attracting yellowjacket workers within a few hours. If traps are successful at attracting wasp activity add more traps until you achieve the desired decoy effect.
The Pest Management Store
Identification guides, reference and gardening books, supplies, etc.
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