The Asian hornet (Vespa velutina) is now firmly established across much of Europe, where it exerts increasing pressure on apiaries and biodiversity. Against this invasive species, trapping can be a useful tool as long as it’s selective, targeted, and responsible — like our UV Asian Hornet Trap — to avoid worsening the situation by capturing non-target insects or disturbing ecological balance.
And when we talk about trapping, we inevitably talk about... bait. It’s actually one of the most frequent questions we receive:
"What bait should I use against the Asian hornet?"
Unfortunately, there’s no “magic recipe” that works everywhere and in every season. Of course, some general criteria can help guide your choice, but ultimately, the ideal bait depends on the trapping situation: time of year, goal (trapping queens or workers), type of trap, hornet density, presence of non-target insects, and environment (urban, forest, apiary, orchard, etc.).
Choosing the right bait means maximizing trapping efficiency while minimizing unwanted ecological impacts. It’s about adopting a smarter, more precise, and above all more respectful approach — acting where it truly matters.
In this article, we’ll go over the main trapping strategies and show how to adapt your approach — and therefore your bait — according to the context.
Goal: to help you make the right decision, at the right time, with the right tools.
Key takeaways:
- Queen trapping = preventive strategy (spring).
- Worker trapping = defensive strategy (summer/autumn).
- Fermented baits for queens, protein/sweet baits for workers.
- Keep hornets alive = maximize pheromonal attraction (workers only).
- UV light enhances attraction.
- 1 queen captured = 1 colony prevented.
Understanding the two main trapping strategies before choosing your bait
Before talking about bait, it’s essential to understand that there are two main types of Asian hornet trapping, each with very different goals, timing, and outcomes. This step is crucial — often overlooked — but key to choosing an effective strategy (and thus the right bait). Depending on the time of year, the goal and the target individuals differ:
- Founding queen trapping — to limit the creation of new nests for the season.
- Worker trapping — to reduce predation pressure around apiaries and help colonies recover.
Founding queen trapping (Early spring)
At the very start of spring, founding Asian hornet queens emerge from hibernation. They are alone and must do everything themselves to start a new colony. This makes early spring the critical period to act if you want to trap a founding queen effectively.
Target and timing
- Target: Founding queens emerging from winter diapause.
- Period: As soon as temperatures reach 20°C for 3 consecutive days (usually February–March), and during dispersal flights (starting at 15°C).
Critical duration: About 40 days during which each queen must:
- Feed
- Find shelter
- Build a primary nest
- Lay the first generation of eggs
- Warm and feed the larvae until the first workers emerge.
Goal: 1 queen captured = 1 colony prevented (i.e., thousands fewer workers).
Recommended baits
Queens seek carbohydrates and are attracted by fermented and acidic odors. Here are 3 recipes — from simplest to most advanced — with the same goal: attract hornets while repelling bees.
Recipe 1: The “Classic Triple Mix” (Ready to use)
This is the most common and easiest recipe to make with everyday products.
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Ingredients (equal parts - 1/3 each):
- Dark or blonde beer: Its fermentation odor is an excellent basic attractant.
- Dry white wine: Its acidity and alcohol act as a strong bee repellent — bees dislike the smell.
- Red fruit syrup (blackcurrant, grenadine, raspberry): Provides a strong sugary scent that attracts hornets from afar. Blackcurrant is often cited as most effective.
- Preparation: Mix the three ingredients directly in the trap.
Tip: Only fill the trap halfway to avoid drowning the hornets too quickly. For queen trapping, this is less critical, but it helps with maintenance.
Recipe 2: Homemade “Fermented Wort” (High attraction)
This recipe takes a little preparation but is very effective because it mimics strong natural fermentation odors.
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Ingredients:
- 1 part sugar or beekeeper’s candy.
- 2 parts warm water to dissolve the sugar.
- 1 packet of brewer’s yeast (or baker’s yeast).
- A dash of dry white wine or cider vinegar (added at the end).
- Preparation: Dissolve sugar in warm water, add yeast, and mix well. Let ferment loosely covered (not sealed) for 1–2 weeks in a temperate area. Add wine/vinegar before use to repel bees.
Tip: Keep some from your previous batch to accelerate the next fermentation.
Worker trapping (Summer & Autumn)
Mid to late season, when hornet colonies are fully developed and predation pressure around hives intensifies, trapping targets workers — the only ones active outside the nest. The goal now is not prevention but to reduce immediate pressure on the apiary by capturing actively hunting hornets.
Target and timing
- Target: Workers in active predation phase near hives or gardens.
- Period: Mid-summer to autumn, when colonies are developed and food demand is high.
Recommended baits
Asian hornet workers have different nutritional needs: they seek proteins (to feed larvae) and sugars (for flight energy). Alternating between these two sources is key for maximizing trapping efficiency.
Recipe 3: The “Protein Shock” bait (For heavy apiary pressure)
Ideal from July onward, when hornets actively hunt bees.
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Ingredients:
- Protein base: Cat food with fish, tuna flakes in oil, crushed sardines, or shrimp heads — strong fishy odors are powerful attractants.
- Sweet binder: A spoonful of honey or blackcurrant syrup — adds scent and stickiness.
- Preparation: Place the protein base in a cup or sponge inside the trap, drizzle lightly with the sweet binder.
Important: Do not add liquid — the goal is to keep hornets alive to maximize pheromone attraction.
Recipe 4: Mixed late-season bait (When fruits are ripe)
When orchard fruits (figs, grapes) are ripe, hornets may ignore pure sugar baits. A mixed bait works better.
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Ingredients:
- Overripe fruit juice or jam (fig, plum).
- A small piece of meat or fish (chicken, shrimp).
- A bit of beer to fluidify and repel bees.
- Preparation: Pour the juice and beer into the trap bottom. Hang the meat piece just above the liquid using wire so it releases its scent without soaking.
Tip: This combines protein (meat odor) and sugar/fermented (liquid) attraction while keeping the bait fresher longer.
Third-generation traps: olfactory + pheromonal + visual (UV)
Modern traps now combine odors, pheromones, and UV light for stronger attraction. Ornetin’s system uses ultraviolet light, which hornets perceive instinctively, greatly increasing capture rates. With proper bait and design, this creates a highly effective, selective, and fast-acting trap.
Scent + pheromones + UV = triple attraction power for optimized trapping.
The Ornetin UV trap combines:
- Wide 100 mm horizontal opening for visibility and access,
- Seasonal baits (liquid or solid),
- UV wavelengths tuned for hornet sensitivity,
- Design that keeps hornets alive to boost pheromone attraction.
Result: A more efficient, selective trap designed to reduce non-target captures.
Summary table
| Phase | Target | Period | Resource sought | Recommended bait | Goal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Queens (spring) | Founding queens | Days ≥ 15°C | Carbohydrates | Fermented bait (wort + wine) | Prevent new colonies |
| Workers (summer–autumn) | Predatory workers | Mid-summer → autumn | Proteins + sugars | Fish/shrimp or sugar bait | Reduce predation |
Full apiary protection
The Ornetin UV trap ensures selective Asian hornet capture via UV light attraction, while the Ornetin Muzzle guard provides physical protection for hives by preventing hornet access to bees. Together, they offer a sustainable and effective strategy to reduce Asian hornet pressure while keeping colonies safe and productive.
Learn more about our selective hornet traps.