I went and checked some of my swarm traps. One of them I noticed had something white in it that was visible from the entrance hole. When I got real close I noticed it was the Q-tip I had used to apply the LGO, (I know Q-tips are for cleaning ears . I had dropped it in the back of the trap as I usually do.It looks like the scouts that I had seen earlier in the week going in and out had been trying to remove it. This to me is encouraging. But has anybody else encountered this?
Perhaps no one has experienced having a Q-tip partially removed by the bees, and didn't feel qualified to comment.
Personally, I follow the OD Frank method of LGO distribution, and put 3-4 drops of LGO directly on the wood inside the trap body. No need for Q-Tips! :gh:
Never encountered but it sounds promising. I baited two swarm boxes with q-tips with LGO on one end and queen juice on the other so I hope your moving q-tip is a good sign!
I checked them again at about 5:30 after I had shoved the Q-tip back into the trap the last time I checked them. The bees have moved it back to the opening again. And just when you think you've seen everything the girls surprise ya.
yes the bees are attracted to it. I use a little in my bait boxes and leave the q tip inside the box. I now have three bait boxes full of bees. Now I have to make some more.
I used the Q-tip in the box method earlier this season, and I didn't have a chance to get all of my swarm traps out. Then one day I used one of those nuc boxes to gather a swarm I removed with my swarm pole and took it back to my yard. Obviously it wasn't scout bees, but the next morning I noticed something white poking out of the box and finally figured out that the bees were cleaning house. Since then, I only put drops of LGO on the frames and entrance.
Often the scout bees or robbers in my traps will move the q-tip around and it is common for me to find it up by the entrance hole. It is also common to find it with all the fuzzy part on the end I dipped into the LGO chewed away as well.
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