First trap out and need some advise

[Royall]

I'm going to be doing a trap out for a bunch of bees that moved into a house. The bees entered around the plumbing access and haven't been in the house too awful long I guess. Plan is to build a box that will cover the opening and placing an empty hive next to the trap out. I've never done this before but have been looking at YouTube and reading some. What I'm thinking of doing is, take a couple of frames out of my other hives with honey and adding some lemon oil. This will be where I hope the bees will go to when they can't get back into their old home. As far as the trap out goes, what size opening do you put in the end of the cone you use for the trap exit? 3/8", 1/2"... How long does it usually take to get everybody into the new box? Last, does the queen ever come out and into the new hives??

Like I said, first time doing this and very nervous about doing it right. If I don't get them out the owner is going to poison them out. I don't want to see that.

Oh, is hardware cloth OK for making the cone that I'll attach to the trap??

Any and all suggestions welcome!

Glad you guys don't get tired of all the new people asking questions!! LOL

I would post a photo of the opening but I've forgotten how to post!! Its the pits getting old!! LOL

[GSF]

I've never done a trap out before so take this with a grain of salt. I wouldn't put lemon grass oil in the box. The bees are already there. Two things should draw them in the box. The smell of comb and the location of the box's entrance. If the entrance is close to where they used to go in at they should finally crawl in there, being confused and everything.

From what I've read it's a rare thing to get the queen. Maybe in this early stage and having little to no comb she may crawl out looking for the gang.

[buzzbee]

Hers a source of some great info:
http://forum.beemaster.com/index.php/topic,20301.0.html

[wouldliketobee]

I've only done one trapout and it was successful mainly because of all the info available here on Beemaster. My trapout was on a tree, I made a platform similar to a strap on deer stand. I placed a deep with a frame of brood, eggs, and bees in a deep hive body with 9 frames of foundation. I pointed the entrance at the base of cone and even put a board for bees to crawl from base of cone to hive body.The cone was around a foot long with enough room for two bees to pass threw at the same time on the narrow end. 1/8 inch hardware cloth worked for me for the cone, if the mesh is any bigger bees can pass right threw.  My trapout took about a month ,the owner was very helpful letting me know what was going on every few days. Check the link provided by Buzzbee. Or search trapout.   

[Royall]

Thanks guys for posting some ideas. I'll got through the link that buzzbee posted. I'm sure I'll be back with more questions!

[Royall]

OK, just got through watching the video buzzbee posted and wow! I do have a question or three..

I know he said to make the opening of the cone big enough for 2 drones or big enough for dead bees to be removed. How does that equate to a size can relate to? Dime, nickle, 1/2', 3/4"???? Also, I went through it twice but still didn't catch how big the hole in the board was nor how long the cone was. I know... I'm old and can't hear!!! LOL

What happens if you leave honey in the come when you seal the old hive up? I know the home caretaker wants this done before the owner gets back on island if possible.

And what would you charge to do a trap out in a residential setting like this? It is maybe 40 miles r/t.

[iddee]

The hole in he board?? It doesn't matter. How could you miss it.
http://forum.beemaster.com/index.php/topic,20068.0.html

Hole in the point of cone, 3/8 to 1/2 inch.

[Royall]

thanks for the measurements... at my age I miss a lot.....

[iddee]

68 Here. You will never be as old as me.    :evil:   :-D

[Royall]

It seems like I'm running as fast as I can to catch up!!! Live is like a roll of toilet paper.... closer to the end, the faster it goes!! LOL