Should I Put Up Swarm Traps?

[paus]

Height is not the most important part of the equation.  Our club had a swarm TRAPPING speaker at our last meeting, he was a retired engineer ,very interesting speaker.  I will condense.  Two 10- frame with only 3 frames in top box, lots of LGO, face in the SE quadrant small entry, old comb starter comb or strip, along ROW running N&S with shade in afternoon, place only on hardwoods 5-6 feet high.  Lots of Info, as I "reirratate" all info can be right or wrong.  One more WARNINGTrapping is addictive as fishing , metal detector etc:. but the season is short, in NE Texas from Feb through May, although this is not set in concrete.

[paus]

I have time for more info.  I have a friend that caught 40 swarms with 26 traps.  He uses traps similar to the ones I use.  I make them light out of what ever is available,  Five frame nuc is the most common sizes I use and I have caught most of my swarms in 5or 6 frame boxes.  Some people rub honey in the walls of the trap, sounds good but I haven't but may try this in couple of weeks.  Good and have fun.

[van from Arkansas]

Paus, do you have issues with wasp.  Every time I put up a trap, wasp move in....in a matter of days.  I have tried the lemon grass oil on cotton in a straw for slow release.

Last year, I got stung by red wasp that moved into a trap.  Darn ol wasp they are everywhere, in my bbq, eves, shead, even in the attic.

[paus]

Yes wasp are a big nuisance.  I have tried two things that help. Check traps often and set wasp traps close to the trap. I have had limited success with wasp traps.  I reached in the trap to check things and crushed a nest with 4-5 wasp on it I killed half of them and the other half stung me, so I guess that was a draw.  I "think" I have noticed that where I get wasp I do not catch a swarm. Something that I have thought about and never tried is to put up a wasp friendly old can or anything that is more attractive to wasp.