Spotted the first swarm of this season, Feb 7 Venice, Ca!! Beats my previous observation recored of March 9th.
Cheers,
Patrick
Hi Buddy
Yeah The Peach trees are Blooming at the garden I'm putting out 5 swarm traps
Sunday
kirk
QuoteYeah The Peach trees are Blooming at the garden I'm putting out 5 swarm traps
Keep us posted. I'd like to know how that goes. I hear it is very hit and miss. You ever catch anything?
I am worried that if I put out a swarm trap, it will entice my bees...???????
That is how I feel.
Quote from: DayValleyDahlias on February 07, 2008, 11:34:25 PM
I am worried that if I put out a swarm trap, it will entice my bees...???????
It will...if your bees are swarming. And that is a good thing to entice them then or they will be gone!!!!
A happy healthy hive won't abscond for a swarm trap nearby. If they leave it will usually be for a new area with better forage. And that is rare.
Rick
Quote from: DayValleyDahlias on February 07, 2008, 11:34:25 PM
I am worried that if I put out a swarm trap, it will entice my bees...???????
If they gonna swarm, they gonna swarm. Might as well catch your own swarms. :-D
Ok I understand. If it looks like the hives are going to swarm (capped queen cells) then I can place a nuc I just put together, with lemongrass oil rubbed onto the top bars near the hives and see what happens.
What do you think??
Annette
I always put my swarm traps 300 yards South of the bee yards, 8-9 feet off the ground. If it is a 10-frame hive, just get it off the ground enough so the varments won't get into it. We have lots of feral wild hogs here in Texas. I only use a few drops of lemmon grass oil as an attractant, and always have attracted swarms. I have to wait until late March, or April to start putting out swarm traps. I'm so envious that you are having swarms this early in the season.
>Ok I understand. If it looks like the hives are going to swarm (capped queen cells) then I can place a nuc I just put together, with lemongrass oil rubbed onto the top bars near the hives and see what happens.
>What do you think??
I'd give you about a one in eight chance they will move into your nuc. On the other hand if you PUT them in your nuc by putting a frame with queen cells and some other brood and honey and do a split then there's more like a 99.99% chance.
http://www.bushfarms.com/beessplits.htm#swarmcontrol
Michael
I feel so stupid right now. Don't know what I was thinking as I did that very thing last summer. Remember I split the hive when I saw the capped queen cells, per your instructions. And now that is why I have 2 hives instead of 1.
My mind was on this swarming business and I totally forgot about the split I made. Maybe I should just shut up and read and learn.
Annette
Setting up a bait hive is a wonderful idea. It's just not something I'd depend on. No reason to "shut up and read" when you can ask questions...
Quote from: Michael Bush on February 09, 2008, 05:12:00 PM
Setting up a bait hive is a wonderful idea. It's just not something I'd depend on. No reason to "shut up and read" when you can ask questions...
Especially when they answered.