Wasp/Hornet Control

Yellow-legged Hornet (Vespa Velutina) Selective Trap

Target hornets. Let non-target insects go.

A smart, eco-minded trap designed for effective hornet capture while reducing bycatch to avoid clogging the trap unnecessarily.

The yellow-legged hornet (Vespa velutina) is a serious biosecurity threat to honeybees and other pollinators. Biosecurity New Zealand is currently responding to detections on Auckland’s North Shore, and is urging the public to stay vigilant and report sightings.

Why this matters for NZ beekeepers

• Hornets prey on bees at hive entrance causing the bees to stay in the hive.
• The ongoing stress of this "hawking" can cause colony collapse 
• Early detection will give eradication a high chance of success

The GOOD4BEES trap is suited to monitoring and targeted trapping—particularly where hornet activity is suspected or where you want an extra layer of protection around apiaries.

It is extremely well built and made to last a long time. The structure is rigid and durable for NZ conditions. The attractant is protected from rain dilution to give great results in all weather. The base is very easy to remove to refill with attractant without risk of any hornets escaping.

Key feature: bycatch release mechanisms

Unlike basic “bucket” style traps, this design is built around selectivity:

• Calibrated entry aimed at hornet-sized insects
• Dedicated escape routes so smaller insects can exit
• No-drowning design (bait is separated from insects) to reduce unnecessary mortality
  

Result: effective trapping, with less collateral damage to beneficial insects.

How it works

1) Attract

• Transparent bait reservoir for quick checks and easy cleaning - 
• Dual-wick diffusion system to increase scent release
• Ventilation openings to help disperse attractant odour

Biosecurity NZ uses a mix of carbohydrate and protein trapping approaches in their response work. We recommend mixing Grape Juice and Brown Sugar 50/50 for Bait. This has been very successful in Georgia, USA.

Tip. When hornets die, they put out a pheromone that attracts more hornets. If you are in a hornet area, leave 2 or 3 dead hornets in the trap at all times, where possible. 

2) Capture

• Hornets tend to move toward light—this design encourages top-section movement
• A flexible one-way cone helps reduce escapes once inside

This “anti-return cone” concept and the broader attract–capture–select approach are well established in European hornet-trapping products and use

3) Select (in/out control)

• Entry sizing helps limit access by larger non-target insects. (Not important in NZ)
• Escape points help smaller insects get out
• Separated bait reduces drowning risk

Many modern selective traps use the same principles—calibrated entrances, escape routes, and anti-drowning features—to reduce impact on non-target insects.

Simple to use

• Hang it or place it on the ground
• Quick visual inspection of bait level
• Reusable, durable construction
• Works with liquid or solid baits

Compact and lightweight: approx. 18 × 13 × 13 cm, ~95 g.

Note: The product is packed as a kitset to save shipping costs. Some simple assembly is required. Instructions are included.

Easy set and refillable. Attractive to wasps, not bees.

A reusable wasp trapping system for use with NoPests® Wasp Lure (sold separately). Highly effective with the capacity to capture hundreds of wasps. When full, empty contents in trash and refill again with NoPests® Wasp Lure. Contains 1 Wasp Dome Trap (yellow base with clear lid) and 1 suspension string.

1. Unlock the Wasp Dome Trap, pour in 250ml of NoPests® Wasp Lure.
2. Lock Wasp Dome Trap lid to the closed position.
3. Locate trap in direct sunlight in areas where wasps frequent, using hanging cord provided.
4. Inspect the dome trap regularly and remove dead insects.
5. Replace lure monthly, or when levels drop due to evaporation.
6. If the dome trap is full and there is no free liquid, remove contents and rinse with clean water before refilling with NoPests® Wasp Lure. Ensure no Lure is spilt on the outside of the dome trap.

Scientifically formulated and non-toxic. Attractive to wasps, not bees.

A specially formulated, non-toxic liquid lure which is attractive to Common and German wasps, but NOT to bees or Paper wasps. For use in the refillable NoPests® Wasp Dome Traps. Available in 1L & 5L packs.

Tip: Use in summer & Autumn to control active wasp populations and also in Spring to control queen wasps as they come out of hibernation, preventing population growth.

Directions for Use with the Wasp Dome Trap - purchase that here.

1. Unlock the Wasp Dome Trap, pour in 250ml of NoPests® Wasp Lure.
2. Lock Wasp Dome Trap lid to closed position.
3. Locate trap in direct sunlight in areas where wasps frequent, using hanging cord provided.
4. Inspect the dome trap regularly and remove dead insects.
5. Replace lure monthly, or when levels drop due to evaporation.
6. If the dome trap is full and there is no free liquid, remove contents and rinse with clean water before refilling with NoPests® Wasp Lure.

Note:

Avoid spiling the lure or leaving shallow puddles of it anywhere as this can end up crystallizing and losing the efficacy of the bee deterrent.

If using this with the Technoset wasp trap – put the lure in a small container rather than the tray provided so it doesn’t crystallize.

RobberGards™ – Stop Robbing Bees Fast

Protect Your Hive Entrances from Robbing
Robbing behaviour can devastate colonies, especially during dearth periods. RobberGards™ are a proven solution to prevent robbing by creating a simple but effective barrier to entry for non-resident bees and wasps.

Easy to Use, Highly Effective
✅ Blocks robbers while allowing your bees safe passage
✅ Fits most hive entrances with easy installation
✅ Durable and reusable season after season

Ideal for spring build-up, summer honey flow, and autumn robbing season – a must-have tool for hive security.

Eye Screws to secure the RobberGards to brood box can be PURCHASED HERE

Click Here to see how to fit them to 4 different types of floors

See what “A Kiwi Beeman” thinks about RobberGards Here

Varroa mite re-invasion

This is a huge issue in Autumn and it is believed to be the largest contributor to colony losses.

The varroa mite re-invasion is a result of visits from robber bees and/or from social bee visits.

This was highlighted at the 2021 NZ Bee Conference by an excellent study done by Dr Dennis vanEngelsdorp and shown in this video:-

https://youtu.be/PvWZjwUbLfA?t=1671 

Watch content from 27 min to 33 min. (Remember the study was done in Autumn in USA.)

The RobberGard is especially designed to deter these robber bees and social bees.

The RobberGards™ is an ingenious device to fool wasps and robber bees and stop them from getting into the colony.

These unwanted visitors are guided to potential food in the hive largely by sense of smell.

They go straight to the vent holes at bottom of the RobberGards™and try to get in, without realizing the entrance is at the top.

These intruders very soon give up and go looking for food elsewhere.

The bees learn within 24 hours how to access their own hive and it doesn’t stop them carrying out all their normal duties.

Some of the features and benefits of the RobberGards:-

1. The registered design is made from high quality stainless steel to withstand the corrosive elements outside and last for a very long time, virtually indefinitely.
2. Deters robber bees that want to steal the food supplies inside.
3. Deters social bees from other colonies that want to come and have a look and will mostly spread varroa mites.
4. Deters wasps from robbing food from the colony.
5. Stops mice getting in and damaging the honey combs.
6. Helps to control spread of AFB disease. If a colony gets AFB and has this robber guard, it is far less likely to get robbed out and spread the disease, before the beekeeper finds it and burns it.
7. Allows a lot more ventilation over winter (in hives with solid bases) to reduce condensation in the hives which is detrimental to the health of the colony.
8. Easy to block up with foam rubber if the beehive has to be shifted. The bees can still get lots of ventilation through the robber guard vent holes.
9. Very easy to mount, switch entries or remove with the use of the stainless steel eye screws supplied by Beequip NZ.
10. Has a summer position or rotate 180 degrees for the robbing season and winter. The entrance is just 25mm wide in this setting.
11. One of the 3 sizes will fit virtually every type of beehive base (floor) that is commonly used in NZ.

These can also be used as:

• Mouse guards
• Wasp Guards
• Anti-wasp screens
• Anti-robbing screens
• Robber Guards

Units packed in a carton:

RobberGard 153 - 200 / Carton
RobberGard 225 - 150 / Carton
RobberGard 360 - 100 / Carton

Pricing is per individual unit.

Anti-wasp plate for Technoset floors.

This black plastic sheet slots perfectly on to a Technoset floor. It reduces the entrance to a small square hole right close to the cluster during winter. This stops wasps as they don't like the dark tunnel from the front entrance to the inside entrance. It also makes it easier for the bees to defend themselves.

Accessories available for Hivemaster base include:

Coreflute Mouse guard: 

Entrance reducer for the Hivemaster floors

These are included with the floor but if you have lost yours or want spare, get them now!

Also work well on a lot of other wooden bases

Coreflute Vent Blocker:

This is for covering up the mesh to stop any ventilation going through the bottom of the floor.

Often used in climates with harsh winters.

Coreflute Wasp Guard Plate:

This plate slides in on specially designed ridge to suit.

It restricts the entrance to a small opening directly under the brood nest.

It creates a tunnel entrance and also better defense - both things wasp's don't like.

It also has an optional entrance reducer fitted to reduce the entrance to about 3-4 bees wide

The floor is not included in any of these options