Swarms

JordanM · May 18, 2008, 09:39:07 PM

Last year there was a log filled with honey bees and somebody came by during the winter and cut it open and they were gone in the spring. The log was pretty packed by bees it was proboly 7' by 2' wide and packed with bees. I'm sure this log had to have some smarms come out of it previously and maybe there someplace close.

What are my chances if i put 2 medium supers that just have the bee cells in them and no honey in them but had honey in them the previous years, and they smell like honey that i will get a swarm to move in.

Second question Should 2 mediums be good or should i put 2 meds and a brood box. I dont want to use the brood box because it just has waxed coated plastic cell in it, no natural comb.

Third question how would i lure them to the boxes without bbuying the oils or scents. Could i put sugar water close by?

What are your opinions?

Michael Bush · May 18, 2008, 11:14:06 PM

>What are my chances if i put 2 medium supers that just have the bee cells in them and no honey in them but had honey in them the previous years, and they smell like honey that i will get a swarm to move in.

They will or they won't. Lemongrass essential oil will help more. Old brood comb will help more than the smell of honey. It will work better about a 1/4 mile from the colony. It will work better about 8 feet up a tree.

JordanM · May 19, 2008, 05:19:00 PM

I will try to look for some oil. Were can you get it and how much is it? We have a tree stand still up about 70 yards from the log it is about 20 feet high. Is this to high for it to go up to catcha swarm or is 8 feet better? How many medium supers should i use for it?

Michael Bush · May 19, 2008, 11:15:51 PM

>Were can you get it and how much is it?

Anyplace that sells essential oils. Try a search on the forums here or a search online.

> We have a tree stand still up about 70 yards from the log it is about 20 feet high. Is this to high for it to go up to catcha swarm or is 8 feet better?

Eight feet is much easier to get down out of the tree after it has a swarm in it...

> How many medium supers should i use for it?

One will do.

JordanM · May 20, 2008, 08:21:20 AM

Okay i will get some about how much is it? I have 2 meds would that be better than one?

JordanM · May 20, 2008, 07:06:59 PM

So it does not matter how high you put the box. I didnt find any lemongrass oil today, i looked in right aid and those stores but tommorow i will go looking in this masaging type store and see if they have any.

Kathyp · May 20, 2008, 07:17:04 PM

jordanM, make sure you get the pure lemongrass oil. you can also find it on ebay. that's where i got my last batch.