A New Control for Yellowjackets

March 30, 2015

A newly developed trap efficiently lures yellowjackets and other stinging pests to their doom, thanks to attractants developed by U.S. Department of Agriculture scientists.

The device contains two compartments. The bottom is baited with an attractant that primarily lures western and southern yellowjackets. The top uses a different attractant blend to lure other yellow jacket species, bald-faced hornets, European hornets and paper wasps.

Once inside, the pests die by drowning or dehydration, depending on the compartment. Beneficial insects, including honey bees, are not attracted to the traps.

The trap was commercialized by Sterling International, Inc., of Spokane, Wash. Sold commercially as the RESCUE! W·H·Y Trap (Wasps, Hornets and Yellowjackets), it is a successful outcome of a cooperative research and development agreement involving Sterling and USDA’s Yakima Agricultural Research Laboratory in Wapato, Wash.

W·H·Y traps are available to consumers at retail chains nationwide.