Hole size for swarm trap

greenbtree · May 31, 2010, 03:43:21 PM

I tried a search for this but came up empty - what is the optimum size for the entrance hole in a swarm trap?

Jc

Robo · May 31, 2010, 09:32:30 PM

I'm not sure about optimum, but I use 1" holes with a nail across to exclude birds

AllenF · May 31, 2010, 10:00:24 PM

I use the old half rotten hive boxes for traps. Sometimes you have to use duct tape to close up some corners or bottom. But the old frames fit and they smell like bees.

harvey · May 31, 2010, 10:29:49 PM

I have been having realy good luck or success this year. I built bait hives the same size as a ten frame deep, put one old drawn out comb and nine foundationless frames with starter strips in the box. screwed on a piece of 1/4 inch ply for a top and bottom. In one box I drilled a 3/4 inch hole where the front handle would be, in the other I put a 3/8 or a little better by 4 inch notch in the bottom of the front face. Both have provided me with swarms this year. I put a vial of pheramone inside stapled to a frame and put four or five drops of lemon grass oil on the front face of the hive. used a cinch strap around the hive and just tied a rope to the top and hoisted them up about fifteen feet on an old maple tree. I also tied another rope on the bottom to help prevent them from swaying in the wind. I caught on swarm on the edge of the woods, one by a creek in the middle of the woods and just today found another in the box that is by a swamp in the middle of the woods!!! If I had know these would have been this productive I wouldn't have spent money on packages this year. I started with one hive and now have six!!

greenbtree · June 01, 2010, 03:35:30 AM

I'm using a deep that I ended up with that someone made. It has no handles which was annoying, so rather that put handles on it I thought it would make a great swarm trap once I drill a hole. I am also using plywood for top and bottom. The interior is nicely propolised (Is that a word?) so should be homey smelling.

JC

Michael Bush · June 01, 2010, 06:46:29 AM

I've been using about a 1" hole as well with 1/4" hardware cloth over it to keep out the finches. The problem is it doesn't keep out the paper wasps...

greenbtree · June 01, 2010, 11:33:01 PM

I was wondering about the paper wasp issue. We have a bunch in this area. Guess I will have to do a frame by frame inspection regularly to keep the buggers out. We end up with bunches up under the eaves of the house and shed. As long as they leave us alone I leave them alone as they consume a lot of flies.

JC