How to make and Bait your Asian Hornet trap
The debate re Asian Hornet traps
Do they do more harm than good?
Just 12 months ago after a single find of a Asian Hornet nest Nr. Tetbury, Gloucestershire in 2016 there was enthusiasm amongst beekeepers to set out various design of trap across the country especially to capture new queens emerging from hibernation.
Now 12 months later with another find of a nest in North Devon, thinking has changed. Maybe these traps are not a good idea. Here is a list of anxieties and points to consider if they are used.
Proposed and draft principles on the use of bottle hornet traps
There is a lot to learn about managing this serious alien invader.
Just 12 months ago after a single find of a Asian Hornet nest Nr. Tetbury, Gloucestershire in 2016 there was enthusiasm amongst beekeepers to set out various design of trap across the country especially to capture new queens emerging from hibernation.
Now 12 months later with another find of a nest in North Devon, thinking has changed. Maybe these traps are not a good idea. Here is a list of anxieties and points to consider if they are used.
Proposed and draft principles on the use of bottle hornet traps
- o Considerable harm can come to beneficial insects with overuse (even just use) of bottle traps.
- o Hornet queens when coming out of hibernation are not attracted to apiaries or bees.
- o At this time queens look initially for sweet carbohydrates as do queens of other species.
- o Traps musty be looked at regularly, daily if poss , to release trapped beneficials .
- o Traps can be placed anywhere at this time even at home, no need to place near an apiary. They can be anywhere, esp near parked up caravans, motor homes etc.
- o After a few weeks the bait has to be changed to protein. If several traps are in the area they can be changed one at a time over a period of weeks. We don’t have enough experience yet to recommend a time.
- o After a date yet to be determined the traps should be removed for the summer.
- o Vigilance at apiaries is now critical especially in later weeks as the season ends.
- o Raiding hornets have to be confirmed early and the nest located, currently by professionals but eventually by beekeepers(?)
- o I’ve yet to be convinced of the value of trapping worker hornets ( or wasps) . If there are a few caught there is the potential for thousands more to be not far away and young new season beneficial insect queens will be foraging actively before hibernation.
There is a lot to learn about managing this serious alien invader.
