The swarm harvester was designed by Cleo Hogan who is a great beekeeper here in Kentucky. This can be used to trap new starts from bee trees or to trap bees from buildings.
The wooden piece (that looks like a tubular rectangle with cross bars attached) is placed over the hole in the bee tree. This is fastened by nailing or strapping. Next open a heavy duty contractor garbage bag. Slice into a flat piece and cut an x in the middle and slide over the piece fitting over the hole in the bee tree. Attach the garbage bag to tree with duct tape. This is just closing off any possible ways for the bees to move but through the tunnel. Next you will need a stand to support the swarm box. An old deer stand works good or build your own support.. Place swarm box over the tunnel. This is in the back of box and is actually a larger tunnel. We have left you slack in case you need it. Next, duct tape around this. Place 3 frames of drawn comb or stores in box to the right of the tunnel.
Immediatley the guard bees will move to the front of the harvester. Allow the bees to get used to the tunnel for a couple of days. After a couple of days return to the harvester and close off the tunnel inside the box. The tunnel has a one way bee escape built into it. Now the bees have to use the escape on there way out but cant return to the tree. When they return from the field they will have to use the drawn comb for depositing there stores and they will. Once these frames are filled and full of bees transfer them to a nuc and add a queen or cell. Replace frames in the harvester. Cleo has taken up to 9 new starts from a single bee tree using this device. If you leave in place you will eventually get the queen or look at it as a sustainable resource and only take a few starts a year. This is beautiful in it's simple, well thought out design. Cat# 890-SH
Thank You
The wooden piece (that looks like a tubular rectangle with cross bars attached) is placed over the hole in the bee tree. This is fastened by nailing or strapping. Next open a heavy duty contractor garbage bag. Slice into a flat piece and cut an x in the middle and slide over the piece fitting over the hole in the bee tree. Attach the garbage bag to tree with duct tape. This is just closing off any possible ways for the bees to move but through the tunnel. Next you will need a stand to support the swarm box. An old deer stand works good or build your own support.. Place swarm box over the tunnel. This is in the back of box and is actually a larger tunnel. We have left you slack in case you need it. Next, duct tape around this. Place 3 frames of drawn comb or stores in box to the right of the tunnel.
Immediatley the guard bees will move to the front of the harvester. Allow the bees to get used to the tunnel for a couple of days. After a couple of days return to the harvester and close off the tunnel inside the box. The tunnel has a one way bee escape built into it. Now the bees have to use the escape on there way out but cant return to the tree. When they return from the field they will have to use the drawn comb for depositing there stores and they will. Once these frames are filled and full of bees transfer them to a nuc and add a queen or cell. Replace frames in the harvester. Cleo has taken up to 9 new starts from a single bee tree using this device. If you leave in place you will eventually get the queen or look at it as a sustainable resource and only take a few starts a year. This is beautiful in it's simple, well thought out design. Cat# 890-SH
Thank You