Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: bristopen on April 09, 2011, 07:54:29 PM

Title: Got a natural beehive nearby and it's gonna swarm!
Post by: bristopen on April 09, 2011, 07:54:29 PM
We have got a natural beehive near our hives and my partner thinks it's gonna swarm. We'd put a Dadant brood box with some foundation next to it hoping that the colony would get inside.

Is there anything else we can do?
Title: Re: Got a natural beehive nearby and it's gonna swarm!
Post by: iddee on April 09, 2011, 08:43:07 PM
1...Put some old comb in it.

2...Put a drop or two of lemongrass in it. ""sudstitute lemon pledge furniture polish.""

3...Put a commercial lure in it.

4. When replacing queens, preserve the dead queens in a container of alcohol. Use a few drops of the alcohol with queen smell as a swarm lure.
Title: Re: Got a natural beehive nearby and it's gonna swarm!
Post by: bristopen on April 10, 2011, 06:28:17 AM
Oh, thank you iddee! Invaluable!

I didn't know that lemongrass oil was used in beekeeping. We use a similar product against mosquitoes during the summer, it's called eau de citronnelle in french, i.e lemongrass water.
Title: Re: Got a natural beehive nearby and it's gonna swarm!
Post by: Tommyt on April 10, 2011, 09:19:41 AM
Quotethat lemongrass oil was used in beekeeping. We use a similar product against mosquitoes during the summer, it's called eau de citronnelle
We use that here in the US also
I don't know if its the same as Lemon GRASS oil
The I have tried the furniture polish with lemon amd it does make the bees come over and sniff  :-D

Put out more than one Lure Box the more out the better the Odds
Good Luck

Tommyt
Title: Re: Got a natural beehive nearby and it's gonna swarm!
Post by: amyleighhoney on April 11, 2011, 05:36:56 AM
Wow capturing swarms seems a little like fishing. I really like the idea of using the old queen smell to bring them in.
Title: Re: Got a natural beehive nearby and it's gonna swarm!
Post by: bristopen on April 11, 2011, 08:58:30 AM
QuoteI have tried the furniture polish with lemon amd it does make the bees come over and sniff

You mean any furniture polish that smells like lemon? natural or whatever?
Title: Re: Got a natural beehive nearby and it's gonna swarm!
Post by: Tommyt on April 11, 2011, 09:29:29 AM
Quote from: bristopen on April 11, 2011, 08:58:30 AM
QuoteI have tried the furniture polish with lemon amd it does make the bees come over and sniff

You mean any furniture polish that smells like lemon? natural or whatever?

Correct
But Lemon Grass and Lemon grass oil are much better

Don't need a lot in fact I think just a Bit is better
Title: Re: Got a natural beehive nearby and it's gonna swarm!
Post by: rail on April 11, 2011, 12:33:26 PM
I have a new package of bee's coming in may with 8 frame hive! Have bee's flying now around the property, should I purchase a nuc and try to catch?

Iddee, noticed you are in Randleman, I'm located in Trinity could I bother your for advice for this area?

Charles
Title: Re: Got a natural beehive nearby and it's gonna swarm!
Post by: iddee on April 12, 2011, 09:41:17 AM
PM SENT.
Title: Re: Got a natural beehive nearby and it's gonna swarm!
Post by: bristopen on April 13, 2011, 09:15:41 AM
Quote from: Tommyt on April 11, 2011, 09:29:29 AM
Quote from: bristopen on April 11, 2011, 08:58:30 AM
QuoteI have tried the furniture polish with lemon amd it does make the bees come over and sniff

You mean any furniture polish that smells like lemon? natural or whatever?

Correct
But Lemon Grass and Lemon grass oil are much better

Don't need a lot in fact I think just a Bit is better


Now I remember why I've had to deal with thousands of bees eating some sort of cake in which we'd put a little bit of lemon extract.

Appreciated Tommy!