Swarm trapping

gardeningfireman · January 28, 2010, 05:58:34 PM

I want to put out a couple of swarm traps this spring. Rather than buying or building wood nucs, can I just use a good cardboard box with a small entrance hole and swarm lure? I know I would have to protect it from rain. I have a KTBH I want to put them in. I currently have two Langstroth hives, and a nearby neighbor says she has a hive in her barn. She likes them and won't let me take them, but I figure they will probably swarm in the spring. Thanks for your input!

hankdog1 · January 28, 2010, 06:16:01 PM

I've heard of using them i'm making some out of plywood. Just make sure ya slap some paint on for protecting it from the elements. Get you some lemon grass oil too for an attractant. Oooh good thing she didn't want them out you can get years of swarms off that one hive. Free bees are never a bad thing.

Grandma_DOG · January 28, 2010, 07:23:59 PM

Here everything I know about swarm trapping in a video

Advanced Beekeeping - How to build a Bait Hive / Swarm Trap

and

Beekeeping 101 - Swarm Traps and Bait Hives

doak · January 28, 2010, 07:24:29 PM

Why not just set up a complete hive body, bottom, top, whole 9 yards. Then if you catch a swarm all you have to do is move it. Less stress the better. JMHO :) doak

gardeningfireman · January 28, 2010, 10:08:24 PM

I figured I would put out a few traps in different locations to increase my chances.
Grandma Dog, I really enjoy watching your "youtube" videos. I watch them at work between calls! Thank you for all the time you have invested. Your videos are very practical with a common sense approach.

D Coates · January 29, 2010, 11:09:19 AM

Great videos Grandma Dog. Thank you for posting them. I collect scraps of for making very simliar nucs/swarm traps during the winter. Securing them to respective locations was always a challenge. Your plank of wood with a hole in it is great, idiot resistant idea, right up my alley. I grew up in San Antonio and I lived in Georgetown for 10 years, moving 5 years ago for promotion. There's alot I miss from the TX hill country. Right now, after seeing your video... I sure miss those TX winters!

Grandma_DOG · January 29, 2010, 02:23:20 PM

Winter? We have winters here?
:)

Quote from: D Coates on January 29, 2010, 11:09:19 AM
Great videos Grandma Dog. Thank you for posting them. I collect scraps of for making very simliar nucs/swarm traps during the winter. Securing them to respective locations was always a challenge. Your plank of wood with a hole in it is great, idiot resistant idea, right up my alley. I grew up in San Antonio and I lived in Georgetown for 10 years, moving 5 years ago for promotion. There's alot I miss from the TX hill country. Right now, after seeing your video... I sure miss those TX winters!

my-smokepole · January 29, 2010, 05:23:28 PM

I made two out of 1 sanda SP tube 12" die. screw a back board on with a ledge. Make a ledge at the other end cover bait and a way you go for five Bucks Oh don't for get three old frame inside.

Grandma_DOG · January 29, 2010, 06:35:37 PM

You may find out you have false economy on those traps. concrete form tubes (assuming that is what sanda sp is) are hygroscopic and will be mush within 3-4 seasons. Wood boxes should last decades.

Quote from: my-smokepole on January 29, 2010, 05:23:28 PM
I made two out of 1 sanda SP tube 12" die. screw a back board on with a ledge. Make a ledge at the other end cover bait and a way you go for five Bucks Oh don't for get three old frame inside.

Soilcon · January 30, 2010, 12:11:26 AM

Thanks for the videos Grandma Dog. I collected eight swarms in two "flower pot" type traps last year and agree with your comments about the limitation of those traps. I had to check the traps on a regular basis to collect the bees before they made too much wax in the traps. Your trap will allow me to place a trap in places I only want to check on maybe a weekly basis. I think I'll make one of your traps tomorrow from my scrap wood.

Grandma_DOG · January 30, 2010, 01:22:45 AM

Eight swarms in 2 traps! I want to move near you!
Is this in a urban or country setting?

Quote from: Soilcon on January 30, 2010, 12:11:26 AM
Thanks for the videos Grandma Dog. I collected eight swarms in two "flower pot" type traps last year and agree with your comments about the limitation of those traps. I had to check the traps on a regular basis to collect the bees before they made too much wax in the traps. Your trap will allow me to place a trap in places I only want to check on maybe a weekly basis. I think I'll make one of your traps tomorrow from my scrap wood.

Erich · January 30, 2010, 02:53:13 PM

Great information in your video clips. Thank you very much and I intend to try a trap this spring.

melliphile · January 30, 2010, 04:13:27 PM

I get styrofoam coolers from work for free. They're about 25 liters. I'd like to try these for swarm traps. I plan to experiment with size, using 1 cooler, as is , and 2 coolers cut and glued together to make a cavity of about 30-40 liters. I hate to throw these things away and have been trying to find some use for them. I'm hoping this works out. I'll let you know how it goes.

Grandma_DOG · January 30, 2010, 05:09:46 PM

That should be interesting.

One tidbit I didn't mention. Bees will not accept a trap if it is translucent to where it will not sustain a dark cavity. So be sure the coolers are opaque.

-mt

Quote from: melliphile on January 30, 2010, 04:13:27 PM
I get styrofoam coolers from work for free. They're about 25 liters. I'd like to try these for swarm traps. I plan to experiment with size, using 1 cooler, as is , and 2 coolers cut and glued together to make a cavity of about 30-40 liters. I hate to throw these things away and have been trying to find some use for them. I'm hoping this works out. I'll let you know how it goes.

troutstalker2 · January 30, 2010, 08:47:33 PM

Grandma dog

How important is the size of the trap? I've made some about 2/3 the size you have made, enough room to hold 3 deep frames with a little room to spare. I wasn't really thinking if it needed to be a certain size. Should I make some larger or use the ones I've made?

Thanks, David

Michael Bush · January 31, 2010, 08:45:17 AM

Swarms do have a preference for a particular size. But they also prefer the right smell. Smell seems more important, but size is helpful. About the size of a ten frame deep is a pretty good size.

melliphile · January 31, 2010, 10:49:35 AM

Quote from: Grandma_DOG on January 30, 2010, 05:09:46 PM
That should be interesting.

One tidbit I didn't mention. Bees will not accept a trap if it is translucent to where it will not sustain a dark cavity. So be sure the coolers are opaque.

-mt

[/quote]
Good point. I planned on painting them to make them less conspicuous. Hopefully a dark enough color will make them opaque enough.

Quote from: Michael Bush on January 31, 2010, 08:45:17 AM
Swarms do have a preference for a particular size. But they also prefer the right smell. Smell seems more important, but size is helpful. About the size of a ten frame deep is a pretty good size.

They do have an odor when I first get them but that odor dissipates after a few days of being left open. Hopefully all outgassing will be complete by the time they are ready for service(3 months). Of course I'll be using a homemade lemongrass lure in each. (cross fingers)

Soilcon · January 31, 2010, 02:48:51 PM

Quote from: Grandma_DOG on January 30, 2010, 01:22:45 AM
Eight swarms in 2 traps! I want to move near you!
Is this in a urban or country setting?

[/quote]

I live at the edge of a small town of 10,000 in an area that is half woodland. I think that eight swarms must be beginner's luck. Three of the swarms were from one large tree with an established feral hive near the school bus garage. The garage owner wanted the tree removed for safety reasons but let me try to pull off any swarms I could. One of the bus drivers was gassing up her bus when the first swarm left the tree and flew about 200 feet into my swarm trap. She said it was a pretty impressive sight.

I put two swarm boxes together from a bunch of old barn siding and scrap plywood yesterday. I doubt if I go back to the pot type traps again.