Went yesterday to a friend's house when she told me she had honey bees in a tree in her yard that have been there at least 3 years (when she moved in). She saw them swarm last year but can't remember when. I saw a little activity at the entrance, late afternoon, with binoculars.
This is a perfectly lovely spot for bees. A pond in a clearing surrounded by tulip poplars and other mature trees, gardens, rural setting. The bees are 50 ft. or more up in a slash in the Y of a mature tulip poplar that is dead from just below the Y up. It is impossible to get to them directly.
Last week she saw them covering the entrance. I'm guessing they swarmed soon after she saw them. She's interested in placing a swarm lure in the yard, and I'm wondering what the chances are of a second swarm this year, and how long that might be after the first swarm that I assume is now gone.
If we place a lure box near the tree with a frame of honey and some lemongrass oil, my concern is that it will only attract ants and other critters and possibly robbers if the timing is not right for a swarm.
I can't tell you how much I'd love to get some of these feral bees! We could try next year, when I think I could guess better at swarming time and when she'd be alert to signs of swarming. But for this year, any suggestions as to timing or lure placement?
Don't use a frame of honey in the swarm trap, use pheremone and some old comb, if you have some old drawn out frames use some of those.
Place the trap high as you can from the ground, at least 10'.
If you're lucky enough to catch a swarm you then can give them a honey frame or two.
...JP