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A strip of adhesive insect trap on a granite countertop, containing two cockroaches and a small pile of bait.
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How to Make a DIY Insect Trap at Home Using Duct Tape

Learn how to create a DIY duct tape insect trap to catch ants and crawling insects easily with simple materials.
Prep Time 5 minutes

Equipment

  • Duct tape
  • Cardboard
  • Scissors
  • Sugar or other bait

Instructions

  • Cut a piece of cardboard into a small rectangle using scissors. Make it large enough to hold the duct tape and fit near the area where you've spotted ants or other crawling insects.
    Hands using scissors to cut a piece of cardboard.
  • Cut a strip of duct tape slightly longer than the cardboard. Leave enough extra tape at both ends so you can fold them underneath the cardboard and secure the strip in place.
    Hands using scissors to cut a strip of gray duct tape on a wooden surface.
  • Place the duct tape sticky side up along the cardboard. Fold one end around the edge and press it underneath the cardboard to hold it in place, then repeat with the other end, leaving the middle section exposed and sticky.
    Hands wrapping a strip of silver duct tape around a piece of cardboard.
  • Sprinkle a tiny pinch of sugar near the center of the exposed sticky surface. The sweet smell may attract ants, but avoid adding too much sugar because it can cover the adhesive and reduce the trap's effectiveness.
    A hand uses a gold spoon to drop a small mound of brown powder onto a silver adhesive strip, next to an identical strip with powder already on it.
  • Place the finished trap near an area where you've noticed crawling insects. Keep the sticky surface exposed, and position the trap away from children and pets.
    A small pile of light-colored, granular substance sits on a piece of dark, fine-mesh screen resting on a cardboard base on a granite countertop.