Swarm Trapping Wanna Know

DayValleyDahlias · February 10, 2008, 08:03:54 PM

Dear Bee Friends...

I plan on buying a swarm trap and lure from MannLake...

Any trick to setting it up? Making it successful?
:)

bud1 · February 10, 2008, 08:10:19 PM

just get in an area where there are bees and hang it at least 10ft. up. always use the phermone or lemon grass pil

DayValleyDahlias · February 10, 2008, 08:12:54 PM

Thanks Mr Bud1

Gonna give it a try! 10 feet eh...hhhmmmm

bud1 · February 10, 2008, 09:42:57 PM

and mam just throw a string over a limb and pull it up and ty off, none of that climing up to place it just so. then when you get a swarm just let it down and plug the hole, dump it in yo hive

Michael Bush · February 10, 2008, 10:15:39 PM

http://www.bushfarms.com/beesferal.htm#baithives

DayValleyDahlias · February 11, 2008, 01:57:27 AM

Oh fellers, thanks a heap and a bunch! Wouldn't that be a hoot, catching some bees!

JP · February 11, 2008, 03:49:36 AM

....JP

NWIN Beekeeper · February 11, 2008, 07:16:47 AM

I don't know if it's good will or what....

Be sure to write "WELCOME HOME" on the outside.

For some reason it tends to be a warmer welcome and capture more bees.

-Jeff

---
PS. Remember to paint in neutral colors and push all the furniture to the outside walls - makes the room look bigger. [Worker Bee Retreat Magazine (Sept 2007)]

Understudy · February 11, 2008, 09:14:36 AM

I set up swarm traps at almost everyplace I do a cutout. I hit about 80% with that method. Put some lemongrass oil drops in the hive. I have put mine at 6 foot high and 20 foot high. The height issue isn't to much of a factor as long as it is more than 4 feet high. So it is not easy for pests to get into.

I recommend you label your remote swarm traps with a name and phone number so you can get a call if they do have bees in them. In Florida it is recommended you put your registration number on them.

Sincerely,
Brendhan

DayValleyDahlias · February 11, 2008, 10:49:39 AM

Oh goodie, I will make sure to get the Martha Stewart furnishing for the trap, her logo is a bee! Thanks so much.

One picture worth a thousand words JP...

Kathyp · February 11, 2008, 11:29:41 PM

what is the advantage of a swarm trap over empty supers left about?

Understudy · February 11, 2008, 11:34:40 PM

Quote from: kathyp on February 11, 2008, 11:29:41 PM
what is the advantage of a swarm trap over empty supers left about?

Not a lot of difference but it easier to mount a swarm trap 15 feet up on a tree.

Leaving empty super out will also work but you need to bait and remove all but one small piece of comb. So wax moth aren't present.

Sincerely,
Brendhan

Jerrymac · February 12, 2008, 01:09:21 AM

You know how I feel about this tree stuff. We have no trees. Understudy will see that if he gets here. I did get a swam in a stack of hive bodies I had. There were about three frames of stuff in the top box and it was covered with a bottom board. They moved in and built a lot of comb on the underside of the bottom board (now the top) That is one of the projects I saved for this coming spring to straighten that out. Another one I saved is in a hive I got from another beek in poor health. Seems he had a deep full of frames on top of a shallow with no frames. Guess what the bees did. That's right, they built comb on the bottom of the frames. Were they mad when I went to pull the top box off not knowing they had done that. I got stung through the leather glove that time. They were really really angry at me.

heaflaw · February 13, 2008, 12:43:32 AM

I've been putting out spare supers and hive bodies as swarm traps for years. My experience has been that height doesn't matter much. I've used pheronome lures but they don't seem to have had much of an effect. I plan to try lemon grass oil this year.

They seem to prefer the ones I put out under the buildings on my farm. I get a swarm almost every year from one on a chair on the front porch of my house. It also makes a great conversation piece when strangers drive up in my driveway. It might even prevent the house from being robbed someday. Maybe I should get a sign that says: BEWARE OF BEES.

Robo · February 13, 2008, 09:56:50 AM

A lot about swarms is just being lucky. I've put out my share of traps and usually stick to the "standards" 10-15ft up a tree and not too close to hives. But sometimes the bees don't follow the "rules".

JP · February 13, 2008, 08:03:31 PM

Really cool pic Rob!

....JP

Robo · February 13, 2008, 08:08:47 PM

Quote from: JP on February 13, 2008, 08:03:31 PM
Really cool pic Rob!

....JP

WOW! From the guy with all the really cool pics. THANKS! :-D

JP · February 13, 2008, 08:24:12 PM

Quote from: Robo on February 13, 2008, 08:08:47 PM
Quote from: JP on February 13, 2008, 08:03:31 PM
Really cool pic Rob!

....JP

WOW! From the guy with all the really cool pics. THANKS! :-D

;) They all should be like that Rob.

....JP

JP · February 13, 2008, 08:32:50 PM

Found this one of a closer view of the swarm on a tupperware tub.

....JP

Michael Bush · February 13, 2008, 10:27:20 PM

>what is the advantage of a swarm trap over empty supers left about?

Like he says, put the super 15 feet up a tree with some lemongrass oil in it, and there's no difference at all. :)