How to Make Sticky Trap for Adhesive Trees

You can keep it ecological and make a glue with boiling linseed (flax). In the old days it has been used to trap birds on twigs.

An alternative glue can be a ever sticky removable glue, that is used in the paper- and packing industry, Henkel has some different types. These are not that expensive. You can dilute these to a syrup. It resembles the glue as used on mouse and rat traps. But with the right viscosity insects will be stuck on it too.

Dust will be the enemy #1 to cover the surface and make it non- sticky.

$35 a gallon sounds pretty reasonable. You could make a lot of fly strips with a gallon of goop, that you know is going to work.

I know that if you take some regular oil based paint and cut it with diesel fuel, it won't dry for a long, long time, if ever; and it stays sticky. Maybe add a dash of bacon grease to the mix, to get the bugs attracted.

Are trying to keep bugs from climbing up trees?

If so, I think you can just wrap some foil around the trunk, tape it top and bottom, and rub some petroleum jelly on the foil.

If you have adhesive trees what you need glue for. Just tap the trees.

Trying to beat $35 a gallon is a tough target to hit.

I have used Tree Tanglefoot on and off for years. It is non toxic and depending upon dust and other factors it stays sticky for about 6 months. I get it by ordering it from the Ace Hardware web site and take advantage of free warehouse to store delivery.

If you order some I suggest you talk to the store manager first. Some Ace Hardware stores do pretty well at reading their paperwork. Others don't. I had an order (pre paid on internet) where the store could not find it. Turns out they took everything that came in the door and put it on the shelf. They finally found it on the shelf and gave it to me. I'm glad I didn't have to find out what would happen if they had already sold it to someone else.

I have heard Tanglefoot works well at stopping bugs from climbing up the tree trunk. That is what the manufacturer sells it for. I normally don't bother trying to use it for that. There are bugs everywhere in Florida.

I mix one or two bottles of powdered cayenne pepper into one tube of Tanglefoot. I then spread it on the branches of the mango tree. It doesn't stop the squirrels from eating the mangos but it does seem to slow them down. If they step in it then they have thick, sticky, waterproof goop on their paws and it is full of cayenne pepper. If I served Coronas and corn chips with it then it might draw squirrels. But, by itself they don't seem fond of the menu.

how do you want to use this glue? what are you attempting to achieve?

I have several pecan trees that are subject to weevils, that crawl up the tree from the ground.Also bag worms crawl up from the ground.My intent is to trap them before they get to the tops of the trees.

I am not sure of the mouse trap glue, but the medical glue that is used for TENS pads can be rinsed with water and reactivated.This would be ideal,because pollen and dust could be washed away.

Any idea if there is a difference in the types of glue?

have you tried polished sheet metal wrapped on the tree trunk? they get no traction and cant climb

Others in my area have tried it without success.

Good idea for squirrels,but not for bugs.

Thanks for the suggestion.

Tanglefoot is the right answer. We use it to keep our elm trees intact. You have to recoat every couple of months, but it works a treat.

Better than spraying with detergent. Which also works come to think of it, but you can't do it too often. The detergent kills ALL insects by dissolving the protective oil on their backs. Wevils will be killed, as will every beneficial insect.

Nope..tanglefoot IS the answer. Cheap at twice the price if you value your trees. A foot wide strip will fill up with weevils during certain parts of the year and you can recoat just before that happens.

Have you tried peppermint oil. Its very good against hard body insects like weevils by dissolving their exoskeleton. If you add 1 tablespoon of peppermint oil and 1 tablespoon of household detergent to a gallon of water. This way it will stay on the bark and leaves without damaging the leaves. Too much detergent will strip the waxy coating off the trees along with suffocating the insects like the bag worms. You'll need to apply after rainfall also don't apply while trees are in bloom because of killing bees. For sticky traps I've bought tape for around the base of trees to keep bag worms and tent worms of trees. Also sticky traps hanging from trees with different colors and pheromones to attracted flying insects.

I almost forgot a good old stand by used in my forestry days against gypsy moths. Rap duct tape around the trees base about 4-10" wide and cover with petroleum jelly. Prevents all worms and most other types of insects from crawling up your tree. Its also very inexpensive. You also need only to apply it once a year.

Here's a link to the technique the Charlotte city arborist uses, which employs tanglefoot, but only needs to be done once a year.

http://charmeck.org/city/charlotte/epm/services/landscaping/pages/fall%20cankerworm.aspx

Tanglefoot works and is not all that expensive if you buy it by the pot. I really do not think you can make something as effective for less. It lasts until dust and debris use up all the sticky. One tub ought to last for years. You only need to put a 2" band around the tree at eye level to minimize the dust and dirt. How much effort are you willing to spend to save a few bucks?

Most insects can walk up glass; metal might stop the worms.