Success of 5 gallon swarm traps?

I have never used bucket traps, but I really wonder why anyone who wants to do some swarm trapping would invest anything in any kind of trap without frames. Maybe in a pinch, but if you are planning ahead, why not just use use/build wooden traps with frames? They’ll last for decades and save you all the time and effort of a cutout, and you won’t set the bees back either.

Wood traps are easy to build, and I got all of the wood for my 22 traps free - discarded as scrap.

I figure I could use a couple frames and they wouldn’t have time to develop much before I would need to move them.

Had considered using two buckets to bring the size up. Make it more inviting.

I could curb plywood but I don’t have much right now. Considering the options.

I did see a video of a wood one being scorched in the interior and they related it was an old timers trick that helped.

Can't offer comment on the bucket.
I use old hives, then move the bees to a good one when captured.

try it if it works then for you it will be fine.

GG

My understanding was 40 liters was the optimum for a swarm trap, which is about 10 gallons. I would be concerned that the bees would turn up their nose at a place too small for them.

my "take" on it is if they worked well, they would be the standard by now
White likely lets in too much light, black too much heat
after seeing how the bees hated pro-nucs I just don't see it working well

There is a guy in WY that swears by them Swarm Trapping bees with a Mobile Swarm Trap - Michael Jordan
he swears by rhubarb leaves for mite treatments as well

Bill Dickerson said:

I figure I could use a couple frames and they wouldn’t have time to develop much before I would need to move them.

Had considered using two buckets to bring the size up. Make it more inviting.

I could curb plywood but I don’t have much right now. Considering the options.

Click to expand...

Free bees are better than no bees. If a bucket is what you have available, then go for it. If you want to set more than a couple traps over multiple years, then I recommend investing in the equipment. In my experience good traps can provide a ton of fun.

I had a few hanging out for several years. No luck. But my wood traps also had no luck in that same patch of woods.

AR1 said:

I had a few hanging out for several years. No luck. But my wood traps also had no luck in that same patch of woods.

Click to expand...

I guess that’s a different question. I was lucky to have good success right from the beginning with my trapping. I spread my traps far and wide. Now I am concentrating them in areas that were successful in the past.