Avispa'clac hornet lure 500ml

01 · THE MIX

One to three, measured, not guessed

125 ml of attractant and 375 ml of water per trap. It is the part most mentioned by those who use it well: a small change in the dilution shifts the result out of all proportion, and the same bottle that fills one beekeeper's traps catches nothing for another. Measure with a jug the first time and you will see what that volume looks like in your trap; after that you can do it from memory.

02 · THE RHYTHM

Every ten or twelve days, and sooner if it fills

The mix loses power with time and with heat: renew it every 10 to 12 days, or sooner if the trap has filled up. The 500 ml in the bottle give four full refills, of the order of 45 days of season. A trap with exhausted mix is not neutral: it occupies the spot where a working one would be.

03 · THE PLACEMENT

Between sun and shade, and out of the wind

Hang it near the apiary, in partial shade and sheltered from the wind. The scent is what does the work, and a trap in full sun evaporates it before it travels, while in a draught the trail never forms. If nothing comes in two days, before writing the product off check those two points and the dilution: those are the three causes in order of frequency.

04 · WHAT IT ATTRACTS

Common wasp, European hornet and Asian hornet

It is formulated for common wasps, the European hornet (Vespa crabro) and the Asian hornet (Vespa velutina). The maker states that it includes a repellent specific to pollinators, so that bees and bumblebees do not come to the bait. It works as well beside the hives as on a terrace or an outdoor eating area.

05 · BEFORE YOU BUY

It is an attractant, not a trap: you need the container. And it works on seasonal pressure — in early spring, or with few wasps about, little will come in.