We've successfully used bait hives (old British Nationals with ancient comb) for the past six years after our move to France. But the swarms we catch always come from somebody else's colonies. It's easy to tell as our Carniolans are darker whereas the caught bees have some yellow.
Having the entrance of the bait hives as high off the ground as possible works. But do swarming bees naturally go a fair distance away from the parent colony? We've never induced our bees to go to our bait hives which are a few hundred metres away in a different field.
Having the entrance of the bait hives as high off the ground as possible works. But do swarming bees naturally go a fair distance away from the parent colony? We've never induced our bees to go to our bait hives which are a few hundred metres away in a different field.