Hi everyone--I've been scarce on this forum since the bears took out my hives mid-summer.
So, I'm heading into year 3 with no bees! I'm starting to see how long it might take me to learn all the hard lessons and eventually become a beekeeper! I used styrofoam boxes in a treestand about 20 yards from an awesome bluff feral hive last year, but I got nothing. I had old comb and lemongrass EO-soaked cottonballs in a plastic bag.
I can't remember who it was, but someone in Michigan was catching incredible numbers of swarms with his bait box. Can anyone point me in a good direction for building a great bait box? And should I actually get lure this year, or would lemongrass EO normally do the job? I still have plenty of old wax available, too.
Thanks in advance! Here's hoping for a much better year in 2011. My plan is to mainly stay out of the hives, as I am the bees biggest threat! And, do you think the bears could easily smell honey, or was my being in the hive the day before a great way to spread out the smell?
I have revised my design of swarm traps of the year, mainly to reduce cost. I believe there is no "best" trap. It is all relative to what other choices the swarm has. Using old cold and lemon grass seem to help.
Here is the sonatube traps I built a few years ago. -> http://forum.beemaster.com/index.php/topic,13766.msg162048.html#msg162048 (http://forum.beemaster.com/index.php/topic,13766.msg162048.html#msg162048)
They worked well, but did not hold up for more than 1 swarm or a couple of years with no swarms
I then came up with a cheaper, better lasting design that cost ~$2 each to build (not including frames). These seem to catch just as many, if not more than the sonatube, and hold up much better for the long run.
(http://[url=http://www.bushkillfarms.com/gallery2/d/1985-2/IMG_2505.JPG%5Dhttp://www.bushkillfarms.com/gallery2/d/1985-2/IMG_2505.JPG%5B/url%5D)
Any good box or nuc will do for a swarm trap. Bees will move into old equipment all day long. It is just having your trap at the right location at the right time. With old comb and lure, sounds like you are doing it right. Maybe that hive last year did not swarm?
The reason you didn't get lucky was likely due to location of where you placed your traps. Here in my neck of the woods its not as critical where you place them as we are infested with good feral supplies.
Ask your friend where/what type places he's putting his traps as a gauge to place yours. Also ask everyone in your area of any bee trees they be aware of and definitely place some near these.
Best of luck!
...JP
I've got a batch of these. They're easy and inexpensive to make for multiple uses, nucs and swarm traps being the main ones.
http://forum.beemaster.com/index.php/topic,27006.0.html (http://forum.beemaster.com/index.php/topic,27006.0.html)
Quote from: luvin honey on January 11, 2011, 11:11:14 AM
I can't remember who it was, but someone in Michigan was catching incredible numbers of swarms with his bait box.
danno -> http://forum.beemaster.com/index.php?action=profile;u=4587 (http://forum.beemaster.com/index.php?action=profile;u=4587)
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And, do you think the bears could easily smell honey, or was my being in the hive the day before a great way to spread out the smell?
Bears have a tremendous sense of smell, you being in the hive was just a coincidence.
I have had years that I fill every trap I hang. The BIGGEST key to success in all trapping is location! I have the 12" sona tubes and small nucs made w/ 1/4 luan. All have w/ 3 old frames & lemongrass. I always hang at least one near all my apiaries. I keep track of others bee's and try to get permission near them. By near it could be as little as 100 yards or a 1/4 mile more. Some people might consider this stealing but most know that if they loose a swarm its fair game. Just like K9 trapping I like to set them up wind of where I expect the animals to travel. Shady wooded areas up wind of fields work best. Book always say the 12 to 15ft off the ground works best but I dont like ladders so they are all hung within reach.
I'm at work now, but this looks like a lot of great information to sort through. Thank you! I only had 1 swarm trap, so I think getting a lot more out there should help. I'm not super sure if there are bees within 2 miles of me. I think not, as I never see bees until I install mine in spring. But, I could possibly get some set up in town at friend's houses...
Thanks, everyone, and I'd love to hear more success stories if you have them!
This is a old thread about swarm trapping that has a pic of one of my luan boxes just after a nice swarm decided to move in
http://forum.beemaster.com/index.php/topic,25514.20.html (http://forum.beemaster.com/index.php/topic,25514.20.html)
http://img340.imageshack.us/i/mvc011sv.jpg/ (http://img340.imageshack.us/i/mvc011sv.jpg/)
here are some more
http://img340.imageshack.us/i/mvc011sv.jpg/ (http://img340.imageshack.us/i/mvc011sv.jpg/)
http://img140.imageshack.us/i/mvc004s.jpg/ (http://img140.imageshack.us/i/mvc004s.jpg/)
http://img410.imageshack.us/i/mvc001s.jpg/ (http://img410.imageshack.us/i/mvc001s.jpg/)
http://img29.imageshack.us/i/mvc012s.jpg/ (http://img29.imageshack.us/i/mvc012s.jpg/)
http://img504.imageshack.us/i/mvc010s.jpg/ (http://img504.imageshack.us/i/mvc010s.jpg/)
Awesome--thanks! So, do you think lemongrass EO would do it, or should I get queen lure? Plus the old comb, of course. :)
I produced 2 good videos on Swarm Trap/Bait Hives
and How to Build a Swarm trap.
Beekeeping 101 - Swarm Traps and Bait Hives (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRfEhAXaeyQ#)
How to build a Bait Hive / Swarm Trap and get Free Bees (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=na3owKhF9m4#)
Quote from: luvin honey on January 12, 2011, 01:05:04 AM
Awesome--thanks! So, do you think lemongrass EO would do it, or should I get queen lure? Plus the old comb, of course. :)
I've never used the lure so I cant compare. With lemongrass, if there are bee's in the area there are times that they are checking out the trap before I even get it hung.
Quote from: Grandma_DOG on January 12, 2011, 02:27:40 AM
I produced 2 good videos on Swarm Trap/Bait Hives
and How to Build a Swarm trap.
Beekeeping 101 - Swarm Traps and Bait Hives (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRfEhAXaeyQ#)
How to build a Bait Hive / Swarm Trap and get Free Bees (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=na3owKhF9m4#)
Yep-that's the method I use thanks Grandma-DOG. Lately though I've been catching annual swarms in a couple young apple trees right in front of my hives, and just boxing them up has been more successful than my traps have been. Heard about an old-timer (older than me) who had permenat holes dug 15-20 feet in front of his yard and would stick a 15 foot branch(s) into the holes and catch swarms on them all summer long. Sure do love catching swarms, but am trying to perfect keeping the broodnest OPEN. Thanks for this thread.
thomas