swarm lure

[pembroke]

I'm sure it's already been asked a dozen times but, what do you use for swarm lure bait and where do you find it? How do you use it. Thanks for all your info in advance. Pembroke

[Sundance]

I use lemon grass oil....... The bees are driven to it.
It is inexpensive (only need a few drops) and goes
a long way.

I also take old brood comb (you know, the really dark
stuff) and melt it down. I then paint the trap inside
with the melted brood comb.

I use a standard 5 frame Nuc box as a swarm trap.

Another lure is to keep your dead queen instilled in
grain alcohol, after a few queens have sat in the
alcohol it make a good lure too.

Here's a source I've used for lots of essential oils.
Reasonable...........

Essential Oil - Lemon Grass

[Maine_Beekeeper]

I have used both swarm lure from Brushy Mountain (the one in the plastic vial) and lemongrass oil from the health food section of our local Hannaford.

I can't say as I can tell the different. I have caught quite a few swarms on both.

I hang my swarm traps around my apiary locations in the first week of May and keep them up all summer.

Every year I catch a couple of swarms. It seems like once you've caught a swarm in a particular trap, that trap becomes more attractive.

Good luck and have fun!

[danno]

lemon grass oil in a 21" sona tube with end plugs and frame rest. 3-4 old dark frames hanging inside

[Sundance]

lemon grass oil in a 21" sona tube with end plugs and frame rest. 3-4 old dark frames hanging inside

Interesting....... what diameter? How do you get the
frame rests in and the frames out?

Pics???

Sounds like a great idea.

[danno]

lemon grass oil in a 21" sona tube with end plugs and frame rest. 3-4 old dark frames hanging inside

correction 12" sona tube 21" long
The ends are screwed on so I just take the screws out and pop one end out

[Hambone]

Pics???

Sounds like a great idea.

[Sundance]

Excellent............ thanks Danno and Derek. Very
good idea...... cheap and light.

I was against posting pictures, and now I see that I
was just plain wrong.