Swarm Interest

bwallace23350 · April 02, 2019, 04:57:08 PM

I looked at one of my swarm traps that I put scent in and noticed some honey bees flying around and in it. Does this mean a swarm might be coming my way?

van from Arkansas · April 02, 2019, 05:09:24 PM

Well, scout bees are the first sign. First a single scout bee, then his buddies come and check out the box. Let?s hope.

bwallace23350 · April 02, 2019, 05:12:01 PM

Lets hope. It would be first caught swarm

MikeyN.C. · April 02, 2019, 05:34:08 PM

Bw, here in my part of N.C. we're still in a dearth. I put a pint jar of sugar water near my swarm boxes to attract bee's , it worked the first time 2yrs. ago with 1 swarm box. This yr. I have 3 so we'll see what happens.

paus · April 02, 2019, 05:51:59 PM

I just got back from hanging traps and while I was strapping one trap to a tree I had a visitor. Hope that is a good omen.

bwallace23350 · April 02, 2019, 05:59:03 PM

Mikey we are already past the first blush of spring here. I am watching blueberries develop and my blackberries are in full bloom. Oddly enough the bees seem to like that better than clover.

MikeyN.C. · April 02, 2019, 09:34:47 PM

10-4 y'all are way ahead of us.

ed/La. · April 03, 2019, 07:54:35 AM

Quote from: MikeyN.C. on April 02, 2019, 05:34:08 PM
Bw, here in my part of N.C. we're still in a dearth. I put a pint jar of sugar water near my swarm boxes to attract bee's , it worked the first time 2yrs. ago with 1 swarm box. This yr. I have 3 so we'll see what happens.

Bees don't swarm in a dearth, they shrink in numbers. Less mouths to feed. They might abscond in a dearth. Feeding in a bait trap had disadvantages. Attracts pests like ants roaches probably hive beetles. The best bait is an used box a frame of old comb on one wall a little lemon grass oil and the remaining frames starter strip only. They will find it and draw their own comb.

MikeyN.C. · April 05, 2019, 05:09:56 PM

ed/La., I use 5 frame nuc for swarm traps, 1 old dark drawn comb frame, others are starter strips or empty old frames. I use McDonald's straw cut in 3" long with pieces of cotton ball stuffed in each end with lemon grass ess. oil 2 drops each end. I understand no swarm in dearth. My thought is , in a dearth I'm inviting all bee's to check out maybe a new house, while they're foraging. So I'm thinking the bee's already know we're to go when they swarm.
BTW, I used to live in Carencro La. How far south are you?

ed/La. · April 05, 2019, 06:36:41 PM

I have better luck with 8 frame deeps then nuc. Tried both. I am in Lacombe near Slidell.