Last week there were twenty or so bee's on the front of the bait hive coming and going. Not a large amount and it didn't look like a swarm that had moved in so I waited a week. Yesterday I went out and again lots of bees on the front and some coming and going. Ok still not a positive swarm but I waited till after dark. Trekked out through the woods, lowered the bait hive, stapled the opening and brought it home. This morning when I opened it up it was just as empty as when I hung it in the tree. I believe that foraging bees and or scouts have just been hanging around it during the day as a resting spot, not sure maybe a bunch of drones use it as a bachelor pad during the day and boogie back to the hive at night! Twice I have done this only to find it empty in the morning. Each time I have had a swarm in though I could tell upon lowering it. There area always bees around the opening when there is a swarm in there. There is always an audible hum when there is a swarm in there. Activity of a swarm in the bait hive appears just like a good active hive on the ground. The two times I got skunked I just figured they had went in and clustered for the night. So if you are using bait hives and there are none walking around the entrance at night or if you can't easily hear them buzzing inside the hive after dark, hoist the bait hive back up and leaver alone. Might save ya a lot of time and effort. Figure as long as the bees know where it is sooner or later when they do swarm they will go to it!
Do the simple check I do -- wait till you see a bee carrying IN pollen. Then take down the trap.
How's your trap rate? Swarms/traps. I'm at 6 swarms for 10 traps this season and I haven't even check 3 traps yet.
I am only using two traps right now and all in the same area. I have brought home four nice swarms! They are laying like crazy. Havn't spotted the queen in any of them but with the amount of brood and the pattern they are doing real well. Hoping for three more this year? Am making another bait hive and then will get it set out hopefully monday. That will put me three traps in the woods. Will leave them there till I am sure this time. Will have to build more boxes and frames this winter. Done building for now. If I can get to ten hives by the end of july will be very happy, then next year maybe twenty? Have to see how they winter. I don't need the honey as I am not selling so I can leave them all they need. Hoping that will get them through. Have an aweful lot of goldenrod that I will be counting on. Thistle is up and booming right now but only have two hives that are supered and they havn't drawn them out yet.
Is is too late to put out swarm traps ? I know it's now July, I am in SW La. Is there any chance to catch swarms ? I have seen/known about 3-4 swarms a couple of months ago that passed over, but I didn't have the knowledge or equipment to capture them.
Best,
casper_zip
Quote from: casper_zip on July 03, 2010, 01:32:19 PM
Is is too late to put out swarm traps ? I know it's now July, I am in SW La. Is there any chance to catch swarms ? I have seen/known about 3-4 swarms a couple of months ago that passed over, but I didn't have the knowledge or equipment to capture them.
Best,
casper_zip
It is late for bait hives, but not too late. Where you were at a 50/50 chance to catch, you are now at 1 in 10 or 1 in 20. But put it up anyway, leave it up overwinter and save yourself the effort in spring. Come February, visit the trap and re-dab LGO on the front.
I leave my traps up year round to save effort.
I have 3 bait hives out since end of April. Two on my two acres, and one on the edge of a field about 5 miles away. I had scouts checking out the two on my property a couple of times but nobody moved in! :'( Checked the other one this week and it is empty also. Caught one swarm in my yard and put it in a TBH nuc. It was getting dark and they just marched right in. Went out in the morning to put them into a full size TBH and they were already gone. :'( So, this year I have batted a big ZERO for swarms. I am one for two with cutouts though.
Quote from: gardeningfireman on July 03, 2010, 07:02:19 PM
I have 3 bait hives out since end of April. Two on my two acres, and one on the edge of a field about 5 miles away. I had scouts checking out the two on my property a couple of times but nobody moved in! :'( Checked the other one this week and it is empty also. Caught one swarm in my yard and put it in a TBH nuc. It was getting dark and they just marched right in. Went out in the morning to put them into a full size TBH and they were already gone. :'( So, this year I have batted a big ZERO for swarms. I am one for two with cutouts though.
That is rather poorly. :? I'd expect better. There must be a causality that can be identified. Tell me about your traps, your locations, your lure, your shade cover.
They are about the size of a typical 10 gallon aquarium. Made of wood. Entrance near the bottom about 2 to 3 sq. inches. Some old comb inside. Swarm lure and LGO on a cotton ball. Bottom of traps are 7 to 9 feet off the ground, on tree trunks. They are shaded, facing East or South. I have four hives on my property (2 acres), none in the area of the third trap that I know of.