I’ve had traps out since late march. I have 4 on dads place that it 17 acres of timber, garden and a river runs along side it. There is a north trap that is a plastic 5 frame nuc box in the shade over looking the river and is facing north, an east trap that is in the old bee yard that is a 10 frame deep with a 1/2” x 2” entry hole 3ft off
The ground facing east. There is a west trap in the Timber overlooking the river that is facing north. There is a south trap that is a 5 frame plastic nuc in an old oak tree facing west overlooking a corn field. The north west and south traps are all head high.
All traps were baited with lemongrass oil freshened up approx every 3-4 days. The west trap I have seen scouts around. Today I was checking them and the west trap had three or four scouts buzzing around it (approx 2pm). I went back to check it at 4:30 and there were a dozen + bees flying around it and going in and out. I thought maybe there was a small swarm in it. I went to the house and got a jar of sugar water and a feeder. When I went back I noticed only 3-4 bees buzzing around it. I out the feeder in front of the hive on the board the deep sets on.
I don’t know if a swarm is scouting it and is moving in tomorrow. But for the life of me I can’t catch a swarm. A point of correction, sunday I bait all the traps with swarm commander.
What could I possibly be doing wrong?
The ground facing east. There is a west trap in the Timber overlooking the river that is facing north. There is a south trap that is a 5 frame plastic nuc in an old oak tree facing west overlooking a corn field. The north west and south traps are all head high.
All traps were baited with lemongrass oil freshened up approx every 3-4 days. The west trap I have seen scouts around. Today I was checking them and the west trap had three or four scouts buzzing around it (approx 2pm). I went back to check it at 4:30 and there were a dozen + bees flying around it and going in and out. I thought maybe there was a small swarm in it. I went to the house and got a jar of sugar water and a feeder. When I went back I noticed only 3-4 bees buzzing around it. I out the feeder in front of the hive on the board the deep sets on.
I don’t know if a swarm is scouting it and is moving in tomorrow. But for the life of me I can’t catch a swarm. A point of correction, sunday I bait all the traps with swarm commander.
What could I possibly be doing wrong?