How do you "bait" your swarm traps?

[djdhays]

I'll bet I know the quickest way to get that hive out of there.

[Charlie B]

Charlie would make a lot more honey if he used the right size valve box.

I can't compete with you on honey but I'm sure gonna try with swarms this year. Sounds like Gypsi is gunning for both of us!

[Grant]

Here's what I use. It's got the real stuff, nasanov, in it.

http://greatlakesipm.com/pollination.html by the quart, it's cheaper than lemongrass oil.

Also, older/used/previously successful swarm traps with propolis helps a lot as well. Search the forums and many will suggest old black comb.

Grant
Jackson, MO

[Michael Bush]

>It's got the real stuff, nasanov, in it.

I'm quite certain they did not collect it from bees, therefore it does not have the "real stuff". I'd be willing to bet the main ingredient, if not the only ingredient, is Lemongrass essential oil. I have tried the commercial lures. They did not work any better than Lemongrass essential oil. Come to think of it, I have some of this, actually, that I bought for someone to get fruit trees pollinated, but never opened it. i should try it for swarm lure.

[FlowerPlanter]

" Bee-Scent is a non-toxic liquid formula that attracts foraging honey bees to treated blossoms improving crop pollination and resulting in additional fruit set and better fruit quality. Monitoring tests show the number of foraging bees increased 28-75 percent after Bee-Scent application. Apply 2 qts/acre in early morning for best results. 2 1/2 gallon will treat 5 acres, while the 16 oz. bottle will treat 1/4 acres. Once applied, Bee-Scent will remain active for three to five days under favorable weather conditions. "

I am not looking for foragers, I have foragers. I want scouts. pretty sure scouts and foragers are looking fir different things.

My guess is they have sugar for the foragers, I dont want ants or other bugs in my swarm traps.

"Bee-Scent will remain active for three to five days" That's not very long

It could be nothing more the a few pounds of sugar and a few drops of LG EO

[Adam Foster Collins]

I just wondered about keeping the smell of LGO in the traps. It seems to fade pretty fast. It could be that the bees can smell it long after it seems to me that it's gone, but I wondered how some of you might be doing it.

From the responses, it seems to be a non-issue.

Adam

[mrjackcoleman]

What is "Queen Juice"?

[CaBees]

Can you just use the entrance from a regular 8 frame nuc (like tape a bottom to it) or do you have to make a larger or different entrance for a swarm trap? Or cover some of it so it is smaller?

[odfrank]

Can you just use the entrance from a regular 8 frame nuc (like tape a bottom to it) or do you have to make a larger or different entrance for a swarm trap? Or cover some of it so it is smaller?

Any dead beehive can serve as a swarm trap. A few drops of LGO inside the entrance will make it more inviting. A pile of stored extracting supers make a dandy swarm trap.

[Charlie B]

"dandy"

[Mustang]

[QUOTE=Michael Bush;751973]If I could just find a glass eye dropper wal mart has them

[WesternWilson]

Someone asked about Queen Juice...an unsavoury but useful product produced by taking euthanized queen bees and preserving them in food grade alcohol ie Everclear or vodka. The liquid preserves and suspends the queen pheromones (using fertilized queens is best) and you can use the resulting "Queen Juice" to bait hives.

[Mr.Beeman]

I have a couple of areas that are real swarmy from feral colonies. I'm going to try the 5 frame and 10 frame traps and see which one they prefer.
Sounds like a real good experiment.

[Sundance]

I just wondered about keeping the smell of LGO in the traps. It seems to fade pretty fast.

Adam

I've had good success melting old brood comb at super low heat and
mixing in lemon grass oil when cooling and just getting real thick. I
paint it on the interior of older 5 frame Nuc boxes...... works well.

[bevy's honeybees]

Someone asked about Queen Juice...an unsavoury but useful product produced by taking euthanized queen bees and preserving them in food grade alcohol ie Everclear or vodka. The liquid preserves and suspends the queen pheromones (using fertilized queens is best) and you can use the resulting "Queen Juice" to bait hives.

Shoot, so the queen I tossed into rubbing alcohol today will not make Queen Juice? Did I just waste the opportunity to recyle a queen?

[Lburou]

Seeley reports a bee preference of 15' for the entrance....Anyone put bait hives up that high?

[Charlie B]

I have caught many a swarm on a 40' rooftop. I've also caught them 18" off the ground.

[odfrank]

I catch many a year set at reachable heights. But at my home last year, I caught more than usual on my second story deck.

[Daniel Y]

Shoot, so the queen I tossed into rubbing alcohol today will not make Queen Juice? Did I just waste the opportunity to recyle a queen?

I have read several times that people use rubbing alcohol also. Rubbing alcohol is alcohol with the fun part removed.

[Michael Bush]

>Shoot, so the queen I tossed into rubbing alcohol today will not make Queen Juice? Did I just waste the opportunity to recyle a queen?

I use rubbing alcohol. It will work fine.