Houdini Fly Trap

The ONLY Houdini Fly Trap Community science is opening a new chapter in the fight against the European Houdini fly, a pest that has no predators, arrived in the Pacific Northwest about a decade ago, and has been quietly raiding Mason bee nests ever since. We see it spreading to the eastern US states as well. Nicole Kenney of Portland, OR has been on the front lines, systematically testing what attracts this elusive pest. After numerous trials, a low-cost Malbec wine from Argentina has emerged as the top lure. The good news: Mason bees show no interest in it whatsoever. What's included: 4oz mason jar Modified mason jar lid Spacer (straight or angled) and wood screw Setup: Screw the lid to the underside of your bee house with a spacer in between. Add a small amount of Malbec wine to the jar, then screw the jar into the lid. That’s it! Join the research: We're still learning. Try your Malbec against other wines you have on hand and see what works best in your yard. If you discover something that outperforms it, tell us. We'll share what we learn with the broader bee stewardship community.