Bee attractant

carlfaba10t · April 15, 2012, 09:11:48 PM

Bought some lemongrass oil today,then did research on uses and properties. Say,s it makes a very good insect repellent!!
Have i ben Had? Is this a good joke on new beekeepers? I just put 3or4 drops on small pad and placed in bottom of one of my new hives,in case bees swarm before i can move them.Now What???

iddee · April 15, 2012, 09:23:27 PM

`It mimics the honeybee's nasanov pheremone. The "come here" scent.
I don't know what research you found, but it doesn't include honeybees.

sterling · April 16, 2012, 01:08:42 PM

A swarm of bees will smell like lemongrass oil. I put some 3# packages in the back seat of my truck the other day and they also smelled like lemongrass oil. So no you haven't been fooled. Last year I spilled alittle too much in a swarm trap and the bees would gather in it like they lived there in the daytime until the smell wore off.

AllenF · April 16, 2012, 01:14:40 PM

There are a bunch of bug repellant products that claim the organic natural label that uses lemongrass oil.

G3farms · April 16, 2012, 01:17:29 PM

I had a 1/2 ounce bottle in my pocket when doing a cut out and could not figure why they kept gathering up on my pants, duh!!

nietssemaj · April 16, 2012, 02:33:45 PM

Perhaps other insects that bite humans are afraid of bee's?

Burt's Bee's sells a bug repellant that lists lemon grass oil as an ingredient.

http://www.burtsbees.com/natural-products/outdoor/herbal-insect-repellent.html

JP · April 16, 2012, 06:39:42 PM

Quote from: G3farms on April 16, 2012, 01:17:29 PM
I had a 1/2 ounce bottle in my pocket when doing a cut out and could not figure why they kept gathering up on my pants, duh!!

I shook a small swarm a few yrs ago & couldn't figure out why the queen kept leaving the nuc and flying over to my truck tool box. I would catch her, add her back & she would leave again. I finally moved my truck a good 50' away and thought all was good when I yet again discovered she had left the nuc. Went over to my truck & discovered her INSIDE the tool box WHERE I had placed my 8oz life time supply of lemongrass oil! :-D

...JP

Shanevrr · April 16, 2012, 10:55:00 PM

Very cool JP, lesson learned lol

Helmuthd · April 17, 2012, 12:29:13 AM

My bees started swarming the other day, so I sprayed the hive with a water/lemongrass oil mix....they all went back in the hive in about 7 minutes!

carlfaba10t · April 17, 2012, 01:29:37 AM

Thanks to all; That is why us new bee guys need all of you who has ben there don that! My pear started blooming a few days ago and the bees were all over them.When i walked by the new hive i put the lemongrass oil in they were checking it out,but would leave before sundown. So i guess they are not quite ready to swarm yet.
Thanks again.