From Hornets to Wasps: The Evolution of Trap-X
When we launched Trap-X® Hornet, our goal was simple: to create a practical, effective and user-friendly tool to support the monitoring and management of Yellow-legged Asian hornets.
Developed through extensive field testing and refinement, Trap-X Hornet quickly gained the trust of beekeepers, hornet coordinators and enthusiasts who were looking for a more effective approach to hornet trapping and monitoring.
But as we spent more time speaking with customers and working alongside beekeepers, one message kept coming back to us.
"Can you do something similar for wasps?"
As beekeepers ourselves, it was a question we understood all too well. Having lost colonies following sustained wasp attacks during late summer and autumn, we understood the frustration and knew there was a need for a better solution.
Why Wasps?
Most beekeepers will be familiar with the challenges wasps can create around the apiary.
As summer progresses and natural forage becomes scarcer, wasps begin searching for alternative food sources. Weak colonies can come under significant pressure, with wasps robbing stores, harassing guard bees and adding stress at a critical time of year.
While strong colonies can often defend themselves, the cumulative pressure from large numbers of wasps can become a real concern for beekeepers managing multiple hives.
However, the problem extends far beyond beekeeping.
Wasps are a familiar nuisance in gardens, around outdoor dining areas, at barbecues, campsites, cafés and countless other outdoor settings. Whether you're trying to enjoy a family meal in the garden or manage a public outdoor space, persistent wasp activity can quickly become frustrating.
With this in mind, we began asking ourselves a simple question:
Could we apply everything we had learned from Trap-X Hornet to create a better wasp trap?
Building on Proven Foundations
The development of Trap-X Wasp began with the same philosophy that guided Trap-X Hornet from day one.
Rather than simply adapting an existing design, we wanted to create a trap that was effective, robust, easy to use and informed by insect behaviour.
Drawing on the lessons learned through our hornet trapping programmes, we incorporated many of the features that have made Trap-X Hornet so successful.
These include:
Internal guiding fins designed to encourage insects towards the trap entrance.
Our proven anti-escape elbow system.
Durable, weather-resistant construction suitable for long-term outdoor use.
Large trap capacity to reduce maintenance requirements.
Compatibility with a wide range of liquid attractants.
During development, we carried out extensive field testing to understand how wasps interacted with the trap and to identify any improvements that might be needed. We were delighted to find that the results closely mirrored those achieved with Trap-X Hornet. The same design principles that had proven so effective for hornets translated remarkably well to wasps, giving us confidence that we had created a genuinely effective trapping solution rather than simply another wasp trap.
Most importantly, Trap-X Wasp has been designed with selectivity in mind.
Selective Trapping Matters
One of the most common concerns surrounding insect trapping is the potential impact on non-target species.
For that reason, Trap-X Wasp is supplied with a 5mm entrance reducer as standard.
This simple addition allows users to continue trapping throughout the season while helping to improve selectivity, reducing access for larger non-target insects while still allowing wasps to enter the trap effectively.
It reflects the same design principles that sit at the heart of the wider Trap-X range: practical performance combined with responsible trapping.
Designed for More Than Beekeeping
Although the origins of Trap-X Wasp lie firmly within the beekeeping community, we quickly realised the product had a much wider role to play.
Whether you are:
Managing an apiary,
Enjoying time in the garden,
Hosting outdoor gatherings,
Running a campsite or holiday accommodation,
Maintaining outdoor seating areas for customers,
Trap-X Wasp offers a practical solution for reducing wasp pressure in the areas where people most commonly encounter them.
The result is a versatile trap that is equally at home beside a beehive, in a fruit garden, or near an outdoor dining area.
Continuing the Trap-X Journey
Trap-X Wasp represents the next step in the evolution of the Trap-X range.
It has been developed from real-world experience, shaped by feedback from beekeepers and built upon the same principles that made Trap-X Hornet a success: effective trapping, practical design and a commitment to doing things properly.
We are incredibly excited to bring Trap-X Wasp to market and look forward to seeing how it helps beekeepers, gardeners and outdoor enthusiasts alike manage wasp pressure more effectively.
As always, we remain committed to listening to feedback, learning from users and continuing to develop innovative products that support both people and pollinators.
Trap-X Wasp is available now from Apitura and selected distributors.