hornet fly trap ~

It may not be the prettiest thing I've had hanging off my deck all summer and now yet into the fall season ~ but it's the most useful thing I've ever come across for killing those nasty hornets and flies.

This summer the hornets / yellow jackets were so bad.  The hummingbird feeder was really attracting them to the point that the hummingbirds could hardly get to the feeder.  The hornets were chasing them off.

I had mentioned the problem to my brother and he said to put up a soda bottle with some sugar water in it.  I use about 1/8 cup of sugar to 1/2 cup of water.  I've drowned thousands ... yes thousands! of hornets and flies with this little sugar water bottle hanging from a wire.  I had to empty and refill about every 3 days.   Now this fall the flies are going into it by the masses and drowning themselves too.  Happy me!

Last year, when the apples were ripening on the trees, we had a lot of trouble with the hornets chewing on the apples while they were still on the tree.  This year we have zero hornet problems.  I'm convinced it's because of the sugar water bottle.

Now I have to find something that gets rid of those stinking asian beetles.

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Look who flew in and took a rest on the deck rug ~ he sat there for almost half an hour.  I didn't see or hear it hit the window, as I was outside on the deck at the time.  I just think he needed a rest and was enjoying the warmth of the sun shining on the rug.

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The other day when the leaves were falling some had landed on the truck hood and blown off.  They left an impression of a pollen outline.  There were more but when I tried to take a picture of them I kept getting the reflection of the trees and sky up above the truck.  Here's the only one that sorta turned out:

Until next time ...
So it goes in my neck of the woods.
~mel