I'm just a newBee but this weekend decided to put out some bait hives for swarms. I went to my local health food store and bought 5ml of lemongrass oil. Cripes! $15 bucks. It says organic BUT is a product of Sri Lanka. (Go figure, not anything any closer?) Anyways ,got home , did a search on ebay and found the same amount for around half price including shipping. So for anyone looking for lemongrass oil, do the ebay thing. (May have already been discussed on here, but that's how I learn -the hard way)
ebay is your friend! i think it has been mentioned on here, but does not hurt to say it again for those who are new. much less expensive at a couple of the ebay stores.
I paid $5.99 for 1oz. or 30ml at Nature's Corner in Burlington, Iowa, a couple of years ago.
I usually purchase a lure from dandant. Last year I went to a nursery and bought live lemon grass in a 5 gallon container, brown at the time, to cut and rub on the inside. it has strong smell. In Africa, they rub the juices directly from the plant on the inside with a little bit of propolis around the entrance to catch swarms.
A search for " lemon grass " here on the forum will produce quite a bit.
I just paid at my local Health food store 4.99 for 30ml bottle just shop around don't need ebay.
Lemon Pledge will get you the same results. Just don't over do it. A quick spray just on the inside of the nuc/trap works fine.
The new lemon pledge doesn't smell the same as the old stuff. The old stuff was lemongras oil. The new stuff seems to be lemon oil.
Whole Foods carries in my area but you can get it from most all of the soap making companies on line too.
How much is enough? I set out 5 nucs over the weekend hoping to poach some wayward, homeless bees and just used 5-6 drops on some drawn comb and some pf's with a drop on the bottom board.
I would think what you used is sufficient, that stuff is pretty strong.
This is interesting, I checked the prices on Ebay and it was between $6-9, then checked my local healthfood store and they had it for half the price, $4.25 for 1 ounce (~30ml)!!
It isn't organic or from sri lanka, but I've a feeling the bees won't mind. ;)
It will last a long time...
I just ordered some from Puritan's Pride (I am not affiliated with them in any way!). Got 20ml for $4.79. It was buy one(10ml), get one free and free shipping!
Cool beans. I'll look them up. No swarms have been duped yet though. Patience is not one of my strongest virtues. Im like a kid in November waiting for Christmas.