[DrakeB]

I have set out some swarm traps this year and have several more that I would like to put out. What should be the minimum amount of distance between them and how affective can they be. I do not know of any feral colonies in the area, but at the same time, I do not know of any other people who keep bees near me as well.

Is it worth the effort to put out swarm traps or is it just a waste of time?

 

[mike haney]

if you normally see honeybees in your yard,put out traps. good luck,mike

 

[Budster]

Yes, put them out. There will be local feral bees investigate and possibly move in. I cant think your local vicinity is absolutely void of honey bees. Put some old comb in if you have it, or score some lemon grass essential oil to the hives. Also, you might have some luck getting on some swarm lists and capturing bees.

 

[Zane]

easiest way to get free bee's!!!
box lemongrass oil and some old comb if possible!

 

[Swobee]

Howdy, Zane! That's how I've picked up about one swarm a year at our yard here in town. Old frames in a nuc with some lemongrass oil on a cotton pad underneath the cover. I've never used one of those pre-made traps, just a spare nuc & frames.

 

[brooksbeefarm]

Like Zane and swobee said, I have used 5 frame nucs but found many times they are to small for some swarms. I now use a 10 frame deep hive about 8 to 10 ft. high in a tree and have better luck. Jack

 

[reynoldg]

Probably to early for swarm trap here since it dropped to 20's last nite but I was wondering what the minimum distance is for a swarm trap from your present bee yards? thanks

 

[DrakeB]

I have the traps that I got from mann lake, and have them spread out over several fields about a mile apart.I did buy some lemon grass oil from a health food store. I am on a swarm call list. I have extra hive bodies already set up so that I am prepared for a warm.

The way I mounted my traps was on a plywood backboard and hung up in a tree about 8 feet high

I have seen other bees around my area that are much lighter and more yellow then the ones that I have, but the question that burns in my mind, is (or are) there feral colonies in the area, or is there another beek nearby who has bees?

Is there a public listing of people who keep bees available?

 

[Hambone]

Search beelining. Time for a hunt.

 

[odfrank]

Separate baits with lemongrass oil by a ten feet or more. Incoming swarms get very confused by closely spaced LGO boxes and divide into several parts.

 

[Bonsai]

I say put them out. I placed a simple plywood 5 frame nuc at a friends house along the tree line next to an open pasture. I caught what appears to be a feral swarm in less than a week using 1 frame of new comb and 4 empty foundationless frames with a few drops of lemongrass oil. They began drawing comb on 3 of the empty frames right away.

Good Luck.

 

[rgould]

I put an old deep with some old dark comb on a old ladder deer stand about 10 feet off the ground with some lemongrass oil sprinkled on the frames and at the entrance and caught a swarm in 4 days. I had the entrance facing to the southeast if that makes a difference. I am really amazed that I even got a swarm at all. This was my first try at this and I recommend that anyone who wants some free bees to give it a try!

 

[Truchaos]

I've found that I seem to have a higher success rate if I can get the swarm trap into a fruit tree before it blossoms. I don't use the paper-mache type traps, I use the waxed cardboard nuc boxes. I do this for two reasons, first the nuc boxes cost about a 1/3 of the price of a paper-mache trap and secondly they hold 5 deep frames. So when the swarm is installed into a hive body, they just drop right in. Just like installing a nuc.

This is the first year I've tried the lemon grass oil (put them out yesterday). Previously I just used the lures as they're free in my state.

Here's a link to a guide I wrote about catching swarms. Most of the pictures are from a swarm I caught last spring.
http://aabees.org/freebees.aspx

 

[Budster]

Previously I just used the lures as they're free in my state.

Can you go into more detail on this... Not sure what your talking about, but interested to hear more...

 

[Ted n Ms]

Checked my bait hives today (Sun.) had one. Last year i caught 5 swarms with 6 bait hives.

 

[throrope]

Anybody got a good online source for lemon grass oil?

 

[PeeVee]

The brand I bought at a health food store is "Now". It is steam distilled so is pure. Their site is www.nowfoods.com

 

[throrope]

PeeVee

Thanks

 

[concrete-bees]

i use the NOW brand and wow that stuff is stong !!!!!!

i wonder if it will over power that bee robber smell!!!!!!!!!!

 

[DrakeB]

Somebody in the May 2010 issue of Bee Culture in the classified ads section has the 5 frame Scentry traps that were used years ago. I do not know about buying from somebody other than a reputable supplier.... Does anybody know of any place that carries that particular model?