Making and Using Home-Made Monitoring Stations

Build an effective monitoring station similar to the JABPRODE design with queen excluder for bycatch protection

Improved Design: This monitoring station design uses a queen excluder to allow bycatch to escape while retaining Asian hornets. The gap in the excluder is usually less than 5mm, making it more selective than simple bottle monitoring stations.

Monitoring Station Design

Homemade monitoring station construction diagram showing storage container with queen excluder and cones

Homemade monitoring station design with queen excluder and yellow cones for selective hornet catching

Materials Needed

  • Sealable plastic storage container (transparent preferred)
  • Plastic queen excluder
  • 2 cones with 8.5-9mm opening (preferably yellow)
  • Sharp knife and scissors
  • Drill or Dremel tool
  • Adhesive strips, metal wire, or glue gun
  • Lure liquid in wick pot or soaked sponge
Key Benefits: Queen excluder allows bycatch escape • Yellow cones attract Asian hornets • Transparent container for easy monitoring

Construction Steps

1

Cut Container Openings

Cut an opening of approximately 8 x 8cm on each side of the storage container.

2

Prepare Queen Excluder

Cut two pieces of approximately 8.5 x 8.5cm from the queen excluder, slightly larger than the holes in the container.

3

Create Cone Openings

Cut a round opening in each piece of the queen excluder. The size must match the bottom diameter of the cone.

4

Attach Cones

Glue or attach the bottom of each cone to a piece of queen excluder.

5

Install Excluder Assembly

Glue or attach the queen excluder piece to the inside of the box, with the point of the cone facing inwards.

6

Complete Second Side

Repeat the installation process for the other side of the storage container.

7

Add Lure and Deploy

Place the wick pot or sponge in the bottom, seal with the lid, and position near hives. Check regularly to minimize bycatch.

Seasonal Bait Recipes

Spring (Mar-May)

Target: Queens

Recipe:

Beer + fruit juice + small amount of honey

Ratio:

200ml beer : 100ml apple juice : 2 tbsp honey

Summer (Jun-Aug)

Target: Workers

Recipe:

Fish or meat + sweet component

Ratio:

Small piece of fish + 100ml fruit juice + water

Autumn (Sep-Nov)

Target: New Queens

Recipe:

Overripe fruit + wine + honey

Ratio:

Mashed banana/apple + 150ml white wine + 3 tbsp honey

Safety and Environmental Notes:
  • • Check local regulations before deploying monitoring stations
  • • Place monitoring stations away from areas with high beneficial insect activity
  • • Monitor stations regularly to prevent overfilling and odor
  • • Dispose of contents responsibly - bury or compost organic matter
  • • Clean and store monitoring stations properly during off-season