I am thinking about using some scrap upholstery foam to help fill in the opening to make it smaller. Any other ideas? I've done lots of reading on the subject but this is my first try at trapping bees.
Starting my first trap out from a tree.
I am thinking about using some scrap upholstery foam to help fill in the opening to make it smaller. Any other ideas? I've done lots of reading on the subject but this is my first try at trapping bees.
Re: Starting my first trap out from a tree.
Looks pretty straight and level how bout a piece of 1X4 the entire length put a whole in it and your coneI am thinking about using some scrap upholstery foam
Either way Good Luck
Re: Starting my first trap out from a tree.
I've used newspaper with good results before -just wad up lengths of it, and use a paint stirrer to keep jamming it into the crack. Eventually they will chew through, but if you pack it well, you can get a couple of weeks out of it. I like it because they will chew through spray foam and I presume all other forms of soft foam, and they you have foam bits everywhere...
Good luck! I've got a couple to start on once our weather improves a bit...
Re: Starting my first trap out from a tree.
As you can see in the background I took some upholstery foam and sanwiched it between the tree and a 2x4 then ratchet strapped it to the tree.Kinda out of focus in the back but you can still see it.
I don't totally have the whole plugged up at this point because I'm still trying to secure the box to the tree.
I hated to cut a hole in my brood box but sometimes you got to break a few eggs to make a cake.
kinda getting dark so I quit for the day, more tomorrow. I'll really try to reinforce the box mounted to the tree. Add some lemongrass oil and make sure that I didn't plug up the pvc pipe when I shoved it in the tree.
Last edited by flyingbrass; 04-04-2012 at 08:09 PM.
Re: Starting my first trap out from a tree.
Interesting concept. Keep us updated as to how well the TO works using some PVC directly from tree to box. Don't be surprised if the bees reorientate themselves to the box and then start using the PVC as a "sky walk" between the box and back into the tree. They will smell the queen quite well through the pipe.
De Colores,
Ken
Re: Starting my first trap out from a tree.
I am a new beekeeper basically so I'm not saying this is the way it should be done but it is the way I'm trying to get them out.
Re: Starting my first trap out from a tree.
I've done a few of these and I use the wire mesh cone method. I think they will use the tube as a bridge back into the tree.
Here's a thread I found that might be of some use to you...
http://www.beesource.com/forums/show...-on-a-trap-out
"If you find honey, eat just enough--too much of it, and you will vomit." Proverbs 25:16
Re: Starting my first trap out from a tree.
Looks like you have a good Hogan setup there. Should work fine.
Did you leave the pipe on without the box for awhile so they could orient to it and start using it as an entrance?
Do you have a frame of brood to put in the box? That will get the nurse bees to come out and tend to them and eventually the queen will come to see who is laying in her hive.
Raising Vermont Bees one mistake at a time.
USDA Zone 5A
Re: Starting my first trap out from a tree.
I did not leave the box off. Should I take it off? lots of trouble mounting it
Re: Starting my first trap out from a tree.
I would ask Mr. Hogan but personally I would leave it on now. That pipe is kinda small and might actually work like a cone instead of just an entrance like Cleo builds. Keep an eye on it. You will know real soon if they are having trouble using it.
Raising Vermont Bees one mistake at a time.
USDA Zone 5A
Re: Starting my first trap out from a tree.
Actually after looking at your photos again you can see in the pipe closeup photo with the foam and wood installed that the returning foragers are trying to get in near the foam and ignoring the pipe end. If that group of bees gets bigger with no activity coming back in through the box then you might want to rebuild the entrance similar to Mr. Hogans design which is a larger opening with a shorter length. He lets the bees use this entrance for a few days I think so they get used to it and then when the box goes on it really helps with the transition.
Raising Vermont Bees one mistake at a time.
USDA Zone 5A
Re: Starting my first trap out from a tree.
I figured out the bees were eating through the foam to get out so I tore all of it down and just used screen.
Re: Starting my first trap out from a tree.
Here is my second attempt at catching the little devils. My 13 year old got stung twice helping me but he is kinda tough. Said he had a good time. I did put a little lemongrass oil in the box with one drawn out frame with a little wax moth damage, 5 frames of plastic foundation and the rest foundationless because the pipe poked through the box a bit too far. I did freeze the drawn out frame for 2 days so I think that will help kill the wax moths but I wanted the bees to have some idea as what is expected for them to do. I don't want them just passing through my box and staying in the tree business as usual.
Re: Starting my first trap out from a tree.
flyingbrass....You need to blacken out all light to make the trap an integral part of the colony. The screen wire is fine, but, you need to cover it with black plastic or the bees will spend all their time trying to get out through the scree wire, anywhere they an see light.
Other than that, it looks GREAT. Some unsealed brood and you should have a few pounds of bees in 24 to 36 hours. Move the frames to a new location, install new queen and you have a new colony. Then, refill the trap and see how fast it fills again. If it takes more than 36 hours to get 3 pounds, let them build up, otherwise you may weaken them so much they can't survive.
One more thing... You should let the bees go through the pipe, with all entrances except the pipe, sealed off for a few days ( two or three). Then install the trap over the pipe after dark, or before daylight. That way when the bees come out the next day, they orient on the front of the trap rather than on the rear of the trap around the pipe (original entrance). If you install the trap during the day, it will really disorient the bees, and they will try to get back to their colony through the original opening.
Send me an e-mail, cchoganjr@scrtc.com and I will send you photos and instruction for this type trap and color photos of two traps in progress.
cchoganjr
Last edited by Cleo C. Hogan Jr; 04-08-2012 at 08:50 PM. Reason: additional info
Re: Starting my first trap out from a tree.
Thanks Mr. Hogan.
I will make it dark for them tomorrow.
Re: Starting my first trap out from a tree.
Here is what is looks like now. Wire screen and black trash bags. So far so good. A few bees looking real hard above the plastic by the mesh, looking to get in but not many.
Re: Starting my first trap out from a tree.
I'm happy to say they are using the reduced entrance on the front of the hive!
Re: Starting my first trap out from a tree.
ok I got some bees but that was a month ago, but now I'm getting back to it. I been gone. Today I added the funnel made of wire and brood in the nuc. SHould I check on it tomorrow or wait another day?
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