SWARM TRAP or SWARM BOX

[BeeCause]

Hello, All. :) I'm trying to locate a square swarm trap which is made of heavy, corrugated cellulose material. I can find the ones shaped like a flower pot, but they aren't what I'm looking for. The one my husband saw on a beekeeping DVD was square and that's what he wants. Does anyone know where I can buy these? Thanks

[Charles Parker]

You can easily make one from a cardboard file box. I use them annually and they work extremely well. I get them from office depot. I cut a 5x5 square for ventilation at each end and one on the top 4x6. I use 1/16 inch wire mesh. Tape the square on top to the outside of the box but the ones on the ends tape to the inside. Use Gorilla tape too, it works very well. You should be able to catch just about any size swarm in that. These boxes being so lightweight make it easy to transfer the swarm to a beehive, all you do is wait till the swarm re-clusters, then tap it firmly on the ground open and drop em in. I like to remove about four frames and then reinsert them and let gravity drop them - the bees will move and then replace the top on your bottom box and your done for now, give them a month - then add an excluder and a super and your well on your way. Good luck!

[Budster]

I use regular 5 frame nuc boxes. They can be purchased for around $20 - $25 each. The are so nice when bees move into them, as all you need to do is plug the entrance, grab them and go.

[rmhcattle]

i find the 5 fram nuc's work very well to. you are not destearbing the bees that much. you let them get started good,all 5 frams filled then move to hive box. works very well for me.

[akaneo]

Was it something like this?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Nuc-Box-Weather-Resistant-Waxed-Cardboard-Honey-Bees_W0QQitemZ250274323555QQihZ015QQcategoryZ46527 QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

This is the only place that I could find a good pic of the nuc but a few of the beekeeping suppliers sell them but don't have a pic (mann-lake has a pic but there website went weird when I was trying to get this for you)

These are cardboard nuc boxes they will work for swarm traps for a while i guess.

Richard