home made swarm lure? what to use?

[bayareaartist]

hi all,
I was wondering about home made swaqrm lures and how to make them and  what to use.

thank you,
Donn

[buzz]

I've heard that lemongrass essential oil works good.

[Miss Chick-a-BEE]

The only homemade swarm lure I remember reading about, was to use some brood and wax from a hive. (This isn't totally pleasant.) But what I read said to smash it up, put it in a panty hose, and then place it in a box were the bees can get to.

Beth

[Finsky]

After my 40 years beekeeping I do not know nothing lure to atract swarm. It can go where ever.

The best lure is empty hive, but it does not work in the place where is already  hives.

It is better to concentrate to study how to prevent  swarming. Swarming is good not at all. http://maarec.cas.psu.edu/PDFs/Swarm_Prev_Control_PM.pdf

Or if you are going to catch swarms, it is another project.

[Horns Pure Honey]

Finsky I disagree. I just met a new friend last week with 33 hives and so fare he has cuaght 6 swarms that are not from his hives, in the trees hanging over his hives. It seams like his bees are attrackting others.

[Michael Bush]

You can buy swarm lure from Mann Lake, Brushy Mt etc.

But Lemongrass essential oil works just as well and is cheaper.  Both will work better than just old comb, but old comb will help.  Lemongrass essential oil smells like Nasonov pheromone.  Just use a few drops (three or four) in the bait hive.

You can also drop your old queens in a jar of alcohol and use the alcohol for swarm lure.  The alcohol has the QMP (queen madibular pheromone) in it.  Just use a few drops in the bait hive.  Works well in combination with the Lemongrass oil.

Of course, bait hives are like fishing.  It's a gamble.  If you find a good location I would put more there.  If you aren't getting any swarms by the end of the swarm season, I'd move them to another location next year.

[Finsky]

But Lemongrass essential oil works just as well and is cheaper.  Both will work better than just old comb, but old comb will help.

Okay! I must use that. My bees tend to go to upper branches of 15 m long pines. Difficult to go there with my 210 pound weight  :P

[Michael Bush]

You can also pick a nice low hanging limb and put some lemongrass oil there and it may encorage them to swarm to a nicer spot.  :)

[Finsky]

You can also pick a nice low hanging limb and put some lemongrass oil there and it may encorage them to swarm to a nicer spot.  :)

Thanks. I have never heard about that. I get that medicin!

[ROOKIE]

I would like to make up my own Lures for next year, The recipe (Schmidt and Thoenes 1992) that I have is- equal parts   of Geraniol, Citral, and Nerolic Acid plus Geranic acids.  The Geraniol seems to be readily available but I cant track down the others, Can anyone help? Also  a supplier of the Plastic Vials.   I would appreciate any help.

[Michael Bush]

>The recipe (Schmidt and Thoenes 1992) that I have is- equal parts of Geraniol, Citral, and Nerolic Acid plus Geranic acids. The Geraniol seems to be readily available but I cant track down the others

http://dyeschemical.com/dyesintermediats.htm

http://www.iff.com/Ingredients.nsf/0/59A9C543239FCF9285256B8F0075E74C

http://www.millenniumchem.com/Products+and+Services/Products+by+Type/Aroma+Chemicals/p_GERANIOL+80/GERANIOL+80_EN.htm


Here's Nasonov:
http://maarec.cas.psu.edu/bkCD/HBBiology/bee_behavior.htm

The Lemongrass oil works just as well and is much easier to find.

[ROOKIE]

That's great,  Thanks Michael.

[Finsky]

I got lure from Russian.

I got one swarm, but I did not noticed if it worked.

Queen's wing was clipped and most bees tuned to hive. I catched  queen in front of hive.

I put in old place 2 deeps with foundations, a larva frame and queen. So it started new life. When yield started I put another weak hive to support that hive. It worked nicely. It got 2 deeps full of pollen and lot of honey.

[Yarra_Valley]

Glad I found this post. Its been something I've wanted to know for a while.

In Australia, it will probably be marketed with a slightly different name. Also, I'm not sure what type of product it is.

Is it a:

Cosmetic product
asian food product
health food product
other product of some description[/list:u]

I'm not sure which shop to go looking for this product in.

[Michael Bush]

Lemongrass essential oil is usually available from health food stores but sometimes a perfumery will have it and you can find it online.

[manowar422]

Does the scent of the lemongrass oil resemble lemons :?:
I recently purchased some off eBay as swarm lure, but
I don't know how to tell if it's genuine Lemongrass Oil.

[Michael Bush]

>Does the scent of the lemongrass oil resemble lemons

Resemble?  Yes.  But it's identical to Lemon Pledge.

[manowar422]

it's identical to Lemon Pledge

Thanks Michael, that comparison makes me 99%
sure the stuff I bought is the genuine article :)
The oil must be pretty pure cause it's aroma
is strong. :shock:

[Yarra_Valley]

Thanks for all the response. I've had a look online and I can get it in Australia from about 5 or so different places easily. Some places label it as Lemongrass cochin essential oil. I'm assuming its all the same thing for out purposes. Newdirections.com.au seems to be the cheapest for it and has the widest range, but they all seem to be quite cheap.

Cheers,
James

[Cindi]

I would like to make up my own Lures for next year, The recipe (Schmidt and Thoenes 1992) that I have is- equal parts   of Geraniol, Citral, and Nerolic Acid plus Geranic acids.  The Geraniol seems to be readily available but I cant track down the others, Can anyone help? Also  a supplier of the Plastic Vials.   I would appreciate any help.

Rookie, it would be interesting if you told us how you made out with this creation of lures, I know I would be interested, tell us the story.  Have a wonderful and beautiful day, love life.  Cindi