Outsmarting a swarm

[Mici]

The big Question!!!!  How to capture a swarm?!?!?!?
well actually i do know how to but still. I heard something new.
Some say it helps if you smear a branch on which you want the swarm to sit on with propolis. 0k this might work but some say it's not of significant importance-not very reliable.

Few days ago, when i was at work this guy from Bulgaria told me something new (construction works). we were working in woods and he gave me a plant-to smell it. when i crumbled it it smelled like a lemon. i know i've seen/smelled this plant before and i think it's called citron mint but i'm not sure. anyway he said that beekeepers in bulgaria use this plant to allure swarms. when a swarm sits on a branch, you take a bunch of this plant and smear the inner side of the hive you want to put them. he says that it attracts them.
Anyone knows what i'm talking about??? i mean, has anyone heard of this before??

[buzzbee]

It's probably the lemongrass I've heard mentioned on ths forum before. Do a search on lemon grass and I'm sure there are many discussions .

[Mici]

i know what lemon grass is and what it looks like-like grass. this is something else but aparently it has the same effect, well it does smell the same.

[fcderosa]

There is a monarda (bee balm) that is lemon scented, makes a great tea as well.  Leaves taste just like lemon drops. :)

[BEE C]

Mici, does it look like this?  This is my bee balm plant in the apiary garden, other varieties come in other colored flowers.

[Mici]

not even close. as i said, it looks like mint. i'll try finding it and posting a pic. but now that you've posted it, what do you use it for?

[Finsky]

lemon grass

http://images.google.fi/images?hl=fi&q=lemon%20grass&sa=N&tab=wi

[randydrivesabus]

theres a "fruit" called a citron that looks like a watermelon......

[empilolo]

The picture posted by BEE C looks like

Melissa officinalis L. Lamiaceae (Labiatae). Balm, Balm mint, Bee herb, Harden balm, Gentle balm, Lemon balm, Melissa, Sweet balm

You may know it as Melissengeist. And the leaves - not the flower - closely resemble mint leaves.

[Mici]

nope. i know what mellisa is and it ain't the same BUT it might be of the same order, just another species.

i think that lemon balm is a close relative but different, so lemon blam it is (in my opinion) description is quite right but lemon balm isn't used as melissa!

http://images.google.tm/imgres?imgurl=http://www.uni-graz.at/~katzer/pictures/meli_09.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.uni-graz.at/~katzer/engl/Meli_off.html&h=271&w=432&sz=20&hl=sl&start=1&tbnid=8fb4JwEfHooVRM:&tbnh=79&tbnw=126&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dlemon%2Bbalm%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Dsl%26lr%3D%26sa%3DG

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Lemon balm is less a spice than a medical herb, in past times much used against stomach ailment and nervous conditions. It has, however, some value as spice, because of its fresh and pure lemon taste, which makes it a perfect substitute for fresh lemon grass or (in dried form) sassafras.

[BEE C]

I planted some because a neighbour lady who I trade plant cuttings with gave me some.  It was COVERED with bumble bees, but it bloomed during our blackberry flow so I saw no honeybees on it, even though its three feet from the hives.  BEE BALM is related to mint, and has a nice scent on the leaves, its great as a tea.  Most of the flowers I planted this year that flowered during the blackberry flow were neglected.  Now the blackberries are done they are covering the yard looking for wildflowers.  The passionflowers were covered this morning, and they have been flowering since early summer.

Salvia species are also covered now even though they started to flower mid blackberry flow

[Michael Bush]

Any plant with a lot of citral in it will probably work.  Lemon Grass.  Lemon Balm.  Bee Balm.

[Mici]

hmmm, interesting..but ordinary lemon juice wouldn't work huh???

[Michael Bush]

>ordinary lemon juice wouldn't work huh???

I haven't tried it.  It does have citral.  It MIGHT work.  But I'd use the zest (lemon peel) if it was me as it has more OIL in it.