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I picked this up at an antique shop in Maine last year. The woman told me it was a "bee trap".
http://www.ravenseye.net/front.jpg
This is the front. It's hard to see but inside, there are two cones hanging from the top.
http://www.ravenseye.net/back.jpg
Here's the back...you can see the cones better.
http://www.ravenseye.net/bottom.jpg
This is the screening on the bottom.
I know I've seen these, maybe on e-bay, but not sure what they're original use was for. Drone traps?
That's about what it would seem, or some attempt to prevent swarming?
I have seen "factory" versions of this and I belive they were sold and a swarm prevention device
It's a queen and drone trap. The Root company used to sell a version in their catalog.
The middle picture is upside down. Turn over and place opening against bottom entrance of hive.
Swarm emerges. Has to go up through cones. Can't go back through. Workers exit through zinc excluder material. Drones and queen remain confined.
Why don't they sell them anymore ? Do they work ?:s
Very cool. It's in pretty good shape and it looks like it's been around for a while.
I have a factory made one out of wood. they are a queen and drone catcher, some called them swarm preventers. I got it from a mentor of mine 5 yrs. ago who passed on at age 90.(Mr. Keith Nutting). I've never used it. Jack
A. Because they didn't work.Quote:
Originally Posted by GRIMBEE
B. See A.
Those are just guesses on my part. There was also a version that had a tube to run the queen to an empty hive nearby.
They are still for sale (in a more simplified version) and usually called an "Entrance Guard". The problem is that the drones can't get out either and they pile up and die. They are mentioned as early as Alley's book:
http://www.bushfarms.com/beesalleymethod.htm#drone-trap
And also in Hopkin's book:
http://www.bushfarms.com/beeshopkins...entranceguards