[Adam Foster Collins]

I have built a TBH bait hive, and obtained some lemon grass oil. How should one apply the oil to the hive?

Thanks,

Adam

 

[outofabluesky]

8 drops on a paper napkin in a small zip lock. zip up 90% of the ziplock and leave it.

 

[odfrank]

I drip a few drops inside the entrance and a few on a comb if the bait contains old black comb.

 

[Adam Foster Collins]

Two different methods so far. Thank you for them both. Outofabluesky, why do you use the zip-lock? Why not put the drops directly into the hive?

Does the scent last longer in the bag?

 

[Fuzzy]

Unless you have some OLD brood comb inside of the new TBH it is unlikely that you will attract any swarms. You might get lucky but I would not count on it.

 

[odfrank]

I caught a bait two years ago on five yellow extracting small cell combs. This year I caught a bait in a funky Styrofoam lined packing crate containing two moth eaten yellow small cell extracting combs and an empty bottle of LGO. Thirty years ago a friend caught a bait in a brand new box with foundation he left outside his garage. But I usually use lots of black combs.
Try melting a bunch of propolis and beeswax on the inside of the TBH, that will help.

 

[Tom G. Laury]

They love that old black stuff stained and crusty combs, old boxes, stacked up. In shade. They do seem to come from downwind.

In Fresno right now the citrus is opening and I am having 2 or 3 swarms a day moving in. For me they are a nuisance.

 

[bhfury]

I'll be right up and take care of that problem for you....

 

[Michael Bush]

I used to try to drip a few drops. Had trouble finding an eye dropper that wouldn't melt from the oil. So I started using a q-tip and dipping it in the oil and dropping the q-tip in the bait hive.

 

[Beethinking]

I just put a few drops in the entrance. I have caught swarms in bait hives without anything inside other than a few drops of LGO.

Cheers,
Matt