The bees dig holes through the wood structures.They do a lot of damage when they show up in the spring.Even if you don't have a lot of crafting experience, you can still build a trap.Make tunnels for the bees to enter the trap by gathering a wooden post, a few other supplies and making tunnels.The bees will be held by a Mason jar or transparent object.Every day you should check the trap to make sure it is free of pests.
Step 1: Purchase pressure-treated wood to make the trap's base.
The bees build their nest in soft pieces of wood.If you have wood scraps lying around, head to a hardware store.An inexpensive but effective trap can be made out of pine and cedar.For an easy trap that doesn't require a lot of cutting, get a wood post at least 7 in tall.There is a faint green hue to pressure-treated wood.The wood may have a stamp that says "L P22" on it.If you want, you can change the design of your trap.If you like crafts, try making a square box with cutting boards and nails.
Step 2: Before working on the trap, you need to wear eye goggles and a dust mask.
If you plan on cutting or drilling wood for the trap, make sure to cover up.Don't let other people in the areas while you work.Ventilating your workspace can be done by opening nearby doors and windows.You don't have to worry about loose fabric getting caught in your tools if you wear a short-sleeved shirt.If your hair is long, don't wear jewelry or tie it back.
Step 3: The wood post should be 7 in (18 cm) in length.
If you are working with a long post, trim it to size first.Measure from one end of the post to the other.To cut across the post, use a circular saw or handsaw.You don't want to use the part for the trap.The post needs to be short in order to get bees into the trap.The trap is easier to handle if the post is relatively small.If you have enough wood, you could use it to make more traps.
Step 4: Take a diagonal angle at the top of the post.
Measure along one side of the post.There is a mark on the opposite side of the post.Use a ruler to draw a diagonal line.The top part of the trap will be cut with the line at a 45 degree angle.The angle helps create tunnels for the bees to enter.The tunnels are more difficult to line up without cutting the post at an angle.If you don't want to do this, you could leave the top alone and make a tunnel all the way through the post.The bees can't escape that way if the top hole is covered with a plank.
Step 5: Cut the post along the traced line with a saw.
Continue to hold the post.If you are using a handsaw, make the cutting process easier by pinning it to a workbench or saw horse.Hold the wood so the saw slices across the line you made.You can hang the trap later if you leave the post with an angle top.The bees won't have as much of a chance to escape if the light filters into the trap's tunnels.If you don't plan on cutting the top, try using a board.If you want to install a hanging mechanism, the board will give you a place to put it.
Step 6: Use a 8 in bit to drill through the post.
The bottom edge of the post needs to be flipped over to face upward.The drill bit should be positioned over the center of the post.Carefully drill a hole about 10 cm deep.Measure your drill bit ahead of time to make sure the hole is the correct length.If the drill bit is too long, mark it with tape so you know when to stop.
Step 7: The entry holes are on the sides of the post.
On the other side of the post, measure up from the bottom edge.The holes need to be close to the sides of the post in order to keep the trap sturdy.If you want to repeat the process on the other 3 sides, mark the spot in pencil.Before you start drilling, make sure the marks are positioned correctly.The entrance points are where the bees will connect if they aren't in the right spot.
Step 8: The drill bit should be positioned on the mark.
Make a mark on the side of the trap by laying the post flat.The drill bit should be pointed toward the top of the trap.The new holes will connect to the center tunnel if you angle the drill correctly.Light can get into the trap if the tunnels are slanted upward.The bees head toward the jar at the bottom of the trap.
Step 9: Take a look at the marks you made on the trap's sides.
Go in until you reach the center of the trap.The hole needs to be at least 10 cm deep.The drill bit will reach the tunnel you made through the post.There are a few entrances for the bees.Make multiple ways for the bees to crawl into your trap by using the other marks.Don't worry, if you can not connect the tunnels together, that's fine.You can try widening the holes or drilling through the top of the post to connect them all.
Step 10: The jar's lid should be turned off.
The perfect size for your trap is a half-pint jar with a lid that is about 7.8 cm wide.The metal ring should be turned on top of the jar by hand.There is a piece of metal inside the ring.Put the lid aside.Get a few plastic soda bottles if you don't want to use a breakable jar.Attach the bottom half of the bottle to the trap.To hold the bees, fit a second bottle half over it.
Step 11: To mark the spots you need to punch through the lid, use a marker.
Measure the lid's diameter with a ruler.Find the center and mark it.The halfway points are between the center and the rim of the lid.These spots should be marked as well.Measure across the center of the lid.The spots are properly aligned if you hold the ruler very still.The bees will be able to crawl through the center marking.There are other places to put the lid on the trap.
Step 12: To poke holes in the lid, use a metal punch.
The lid should be on top of the wood.Put a metal punch over one of the marks.If you hit the opposite end of the punch, it will break through the lid.You can repeat this with the other marks.Any surface underneath it can be damaged by the punch.A piece of scrap wood is something you don't plan on keeping.
Step 13: Use a metal drill bit to widen the hole.
Make sure you use a heavy-duty bit to cut through metal because you will need to drill through a harder material this time.To widen it, drill through the center hole.You made a tunnel on the bottom of the wood post.Don't damage anything underneath the thin lid.The drill bit can pass through the scrap wood if you hold it down.When you are done, discard the scrap wood.If you use the wrong drill bit, it could ruin the lid and burn out your drill.
Step 14: The lid should be screwed to the trap.
The Mason jar has a ring.The wood post has a hole on the bottom edge.Put a pair of wood screws into the small holes you punched through the lid.Use a screwdriver to turn the screws.The holes should be screwed straight into the wood to prevent them from entering the bee tunnel.Before attempting to place a Mason jar on it, make sure the lid is securely in place.
Step 15: If you want to hang it, make a hole in the trap's top.
The wood drill bit needs to be 8 in (0.32 cm) in size.The Mason jar side should be face down if the trap is flipped over.The drill bit should be positioned along the center of the trap.The hole needs to be short so it doesn't reach the bee tunnels you made earlier.The length of the hole depends on how long the eye screw is.It has to be the same length as the screw.It will be 2 in or less.Don't drill all the way through the wood if you made your bee trap differently.Don't let the drill pierce the top of the trap if you made a box using flat boards.
Step 16: Attach the eye screw to the hole.
The screw should be the same length as the hole you made.The screw end should be set in the hole and turned clockwise.You can hang the trap by threading a rope through the screw.You can find space for the trap near your deck.If you notice bees near a spot you think they might visit, hang the trap there.You can hang up a trap with a screw hook.If you don't want to hang the trap, put it on a stable surface near where the bees gather.You can put it on a table or railing.
Step 17: The Mason Jar needs to be put on the lid to complete the trap.
The jar should be moved toward the lid after hanging up the trap.The ring should hold the lid in place.The jar needs to be turned counterclockwise until it hangs in place.You can remove the jar when it fills with bees.The bees go to the jar when they want to leave.There is a light there.Whether you use a jar, plastic bottles, or another clear material, it works the same way.