I've bought the wrong oil. I went to GNC today and all they had was lemon oil. I thought it should be fairly the same as lemongrass but came back here and read that they aren't close to the same. I made my bait hives out of sonotubes w/ plywood ends and was ready to hang them out tomorrow but now I'll have to wait till I get off work and can find the lemongrass oil.
Do you have any old comb to put in your traps too?
This is my first year at beekeeping and I don't have any old comb.
Put your Location in your Profile and someone will tell you where they get it in your area
I have a Place called Nature Food Patch
You also can buy on Ebay I'm told its cheap there
I haven't gone looking
Tommyt
I updated my profile with that info. Thanks!
E-bay is the cheapest I've found. If you need it quick most health food stores carry it. It's a bit pricey at the heath food places but, unless you're trapping swarms for a living, an ounce or two can last you for years.
Scott
After I got off work today I called around and Earth Fare had the Lemon Grass Essential oil. It was 5.99 for a .5 ounce bottle. Not to bad I don't guess and I can take the lemon oil back to GNC, it was the same price. What methods do yall like to use for the scent in the bait hive? Just glad I got my hands on this stuff so I'll be able to put these out hopefully tomorrow evening.
You can put the lemongrass oil on some cotton or paper towel and place in a small bottle (pill bottle) with a hole in it to hold the scent longer.
Quote from: AllenF on March 02, 2011, 09:02:33 PM
You can put the lemongrass oil on some cotton or paper towel and place in a small bottle (pill bottle) with a hole in it to hold the scent longer.
Let me add to it you really need to go with a small hole normally as small as you can make it with 3 to 4 drops on the cotton ball. Don't want to use too much cause a little is good but alot turns them off.
when ya get into it and have some comb to put in it remember bee smell is the best lure so use it in your new swarm traps as the old ones that have caught a few swarms already will have the smell in them. Good luck with your swarm traps haven't had much luck with mine so far but ya never know.
Quote from: gamecockbee on March 02, 2011, 08:46:26 PMWhat methods do yall like to use for the scent in the bait hive?
I asked the same ? a couple of weeks ago and was told to do the pill bottle as well. Just one other thing to add about it. JP had said one way to mount this bottle is to attach it to one of the frames that you put in you trap.
Hope that helps,
James
just drop it in; but make sure to get it back when you dump swarm. they dont like to stay attatched when i try. i dont use frames
Lemon oil will work better than nothing, but not as well as lemongrass oil.
Thanks for all the input yall. I got my 4 bait hives out yesterday in the rain. I used 3 drops on the cotton ball- drilled pill bottle method, and also put 1 drop on a q-tip and dropped them in each. Really glad I got a hold of the lemongrass oil. Got my fingers crossed but not going to get my hopes up too high. I did put one of the bait hives on the exact branch at my Uncle-n-law's where there has been a swarm each of the last 2 years. He also had them in the wall of his house last year and left them bee :)! Hopefully that will be my honey-hole! Also put one out on a strawberry and blueberry farm near a pond. One is in my front yard, and one is at a buddy's way out in the boonies near a peach orchard. I got everybody interested in watching them too.