Best Yellow Jacket Traps with the Most Effective Attractants

Updated on by Jared Belson | Please note that there may be affiliate links on this page.

It doesn't take much to protect your garden, your pets, yourself, and beneficial wildlife from pests. As far as yellow jackets are concerned, the best yellow jacket traps won't set you back too much, and the benefits of using them are endless.

Take a look at some of my favorite picks and top tips on how to handle a yellow jacket infestation sot that you can avoid calling an exterminator.

Best Yellow Jacket Traps and How to Use Them

These disposable traps were designed for long-term outdoor use. Each six-pack contains disposable yellow jacket traps that are easy to set up and use.

I like this design because it's as simple as adding water and hanging the bags. The design of the traps and visual attractants will do the rest for you.

Another beneficial design feature is the fact that the bags won't overflow even during heavy rain. You may also appreciate the use of a non-toxic attractant and a lack of poison. If you should have a spill, your lawn, plants, or pets won't be negatively affected.

  • Non-toxic
  • Overflow protection
  • Heavy-duty bags and rope
  • Powerful attractant
  • Slightly expensive

The Hensita Wasp Traps come in pairs and are very cost-effective, given that they're reusable. The plastic containers are durable and have some UV protection too. There's no risk of overflow with these traps because the entry point for wasps and yellow jackets is on the side.

I like that the jars come with standard hangers. That gives them better stability and wind resistance. It also allows them to keep a larger number of dead insects in before you have to empty the traps.

What distinguishes these traps from many others is that they're very effective during the night. That's because there's a small solar panel on each lid and a UV light underneath, which will attract wasps, yellow jackets, and other flying stingers.

  • Ideal for nighttime use
  • Durable containers
  • Side opening
  • UV attractant
  • UV light doesn't turn on automatically

If you're looking for something cheap to manage your yellow jacket population, RESCUE! might have a solution. These traps by RESCUE! are reusable, and you can use them from spring till fall.

The construction is sturdy and can handle extreme weather as well as extreme temperatures and sudden weather changes. The attractant used is non-toxic but still powerful enough to lure yellow jacket queens.

Interestingly enough, this attractant won't mess with worker honeybees, which is very good. I should also point out that while the traps are reusable and long-lasting, the included attractant won't last more than two weeks.

  • Non-toxic traps
  • Decent capacity
  • Won't lure honeybees
  • Can use homemade attractants, too
  • Will need to buy more attractant

Pet and garden-friendly, and with a fun design, these yellow jacket traps can keep your property safe for many months. The bags might not be reusable, but they can hold an impressive amount of dead insects.

Each bag arrives already containing the attractant. Therefore, all you'll have to do is add water and then hang the traps. Disposing of the traps is as easy as snapping the bag from the holder.

You get six traps in each pack of the Safer Brand M370. I would like to add that once you throw the bags, you could still reuse the hanger and magnetic lid with some homemade plastic bag traps and lure.

  • Strong magnetic top
  • Good value
  • Easy to use
  • Decent attractant
  • Powerful odor if spilled

Why Should You Deal with Yellow Jackets?

Simply put, yellow jackets are ticking time bombs. While they may lay dormant and content in their underground nests, once autumn comes, they will start decimating honeybee colonies. They attack and kill adults, eat eggs and larvae, and even destroy honeycombs.

So you see, it's not the yellow jacket stings you should be worrying about, but rather their impact on the environment. That's also the reason why it's essential to pick the right attractant or bait when dealing with them.

Yellow Jacket Commercial Attractants

Always look for attractants that won't lure in honeybees. Otherwise, you'd be helping yellow jackets and doing their work for them.

Most attractants are non-toxic, but not all of them. If you want to keep things environmentally-friendly, then I suggest staying away from toxins as they could spill on your lawn, plants, and can even get in your pet's food or playground.

Reusable vs. Disposable Traps

Most yellow jacket traps come in the form of jars or bags. They can be disposable or reusable, depending on their durability, capacity, and even design.

Simply put, reusable traps are very cost-effective. You buy them once and can use them for years afterward by merely adding new attractants or making your DIY bait.

That said, disposable traps are more convenient to use. Although they use the same attractant and water combo, they make it easier to dispose of the dead yellow jackets. In most cases, you can detach the bag, close it, and throw it away in a garbage bin. All without getting your hands dirty or your lawn messy.

So it's a matter of convenience vs. budget. But, I should also point out that most reusable traps tend to be considerably more durable. They present less risk of walls getting pierced or wind blowing them right off the hanger.

Where and When to Use Traps

For example, putting a trap too close to a beehive is a bad idea since the attractant may not be potent enough to keep the yellow jackets from attacking the bees.

It's also essential to keep the traps above ground, hanging from trees, fence posts, or at least having them on top of some shrubs. You should also consider leaving enough line of sight from all directions —especially when using traps that feature UV light attractants. Otherwise, you won't be able to catch anything during the night.

Keep Your Bees Safe All Year Round

Now that you know how dangerous yellow jackets can be and how easy it is to contain them, there's no excuse not to take matters into your own hands. The sooner, the better. Start using the traps that fit your situation best, as early as mid-spring, if you want your honeybees to go about their business safely.

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