2 more swarms

danno · June 09, 2009, 02:50:04 PM

danno · June 09, 2009, 03:28:26 PM

So far this makes 7 in traps and one shaken from a bush

jeremy_c · June 09, 2009, 03:30:57 PM

Danno,

Are these swarms from your own hives or feral swarms!? That's amazing that you've caught 7 of them, I just want to even find 1 :-D

Jeremy

skflyfish · June 09, 2009, 06:26:40 PM

Quote from: danno on June 09, 2009, 03:28:26 PM
So far this makes 7 in traps and one shaken from a bush

Very kewl!

You got me a thinkin. :-D

danno · June 10, 2009, 09:14:02 AM

Quote from: jeremy_c on June 09, 2009, 03:30:57 PM
Danno,

Are these swarms from your own hives or feral swarms!? That's amazing that you've caught 7 of them, I just want to even find 1 :-D

Jeremy

They are not from my colonies. The one in the beech tree is about 10 miles away and the one in the apple is about 5miles
Catching them is always easier than finding them. 3 old balck frames with lemon grass and they will find them

leechmann · June 10, 2009, 09:53:55 AM

Where do you get lemon grass? Is it some type of extract? I think you are onto something,

danno · June 10, 2009, 10:03:19 AM

Quote from: leechmann on June 10, 2009, 09:53:55 AM
Where do you get lemon grass? Is it some type of extract? I think you are onto something,

I'm not on to something. This is nothing new. I get the essential oil at the health food store. About $5.00 oz

danno · June 10, 2009, 01:47:15 PM

Got another today!! That makes 9 total. I'm going to run out of equipment if I keep this up

leechmann · June 10, 2009, 10:24:28 PM

Danno, do you have better luck if you place the hive box in a tree, or have you has sucess with the boxes on the ground too. How much lemon grass do you use at each location. Do you just poor it on the hive entrance or on the frames? Thanks

danno · June 11, 2009, 09:30:04 AM

Quote from: leechmann on June 10, 2009, 10:24:28 PM
Danno, do you have better luck if you place the hive box in a tree, or have you has sucess with the boxes on the ground too. How much lemon grass do you use at each location. Do you just poor it on the hive entrance or on the frames? Thanks

The traps are all very light weight. The boxes are made with luan tops, sides and bottoms with 3/4 ends. The sona tubes are coated cardboard with wood ends. All have 3 old drawn deep frames. I place them all in trees. I put them in a shady spot but I like the edges where I can just drive up and watch. If you read books like ABC XYZ they say to put them 10 - 15ft off the ground. I dont like ladders so all of mine are within reach 4-8 ft and it doesn't seem to make a difference. I put a few drops of the lemon grass on something absorbent like a pc of cloth or cotton ball and push it inside. I also dribble it down the front

leechmann · June 11, 2009, 10:30:10 AM

Danno, have you ever had any undesirable bees move in, like hornets or wasps?

danno · June 11, 2009, 10:50:30 AM

Quote from: leechmann on June 11, 2009, 10:30:10 AM
Danno, have you ever had any undesirable bees move in, like hornets or wasps?

No I haven't. These undesirables all start out small with a queen and a few cells. I'm sure they would not be a match for a 4 or 5 lb swarm all rolling in at once

danno · June 11, 2009, 01:18:46 PM

Well I got another today making my total 10. I have to get a pic to post of this one this weekend. I couldn't find a good tree in this location so I just set the trap on a stump about 1.5 ft off the ground

G3farms · June 11, 2009, 01:49:43 PM

Danno, how do you get the sono tube apart to get the bees out? just pull a couple of nails and remove the ends?

G3

danno · June 11, 2009, 03:16:31 PM

Quote from: G3farms on June 11, 2009, 01:49:43 PM
Danno, how do you get the sono tube apart to get the bees out? just pull a couple of nails and remove the ends?

G3

I make one end removable with several screws

leechmann · June 11, 2009, 03:31:16 PM

I ordered some lemon grass today. Anything else I need to try this?

danno · June 11, 2009, 04:36:03 PM

A few old black combs cant hurt. The older the better. I bought 5 boxes of them from a old beek. I know he thought he was pulling a fast one getting rid of his junk but they were just what I was looking for. I'm sure 2 of my swarms came from his bee's

G3farms · June 11, 2009, 06:17:06 PM

now thats just not right setting up your bait hives next to his bee yard ;)

I want to do the same thing with a fella that brings in hives from across town. He sets his hives up on one farm and I want to set my bait hives up on the next farm over, about 50 yards away on the other side of the woods. :-D :-D :-D

I know I have given some swarms away like that.

G3

leechmann · June 11, 2009, 11:14:34 PM

Danno, are you putting any air vent in tje hive box?

danno · June 12, 2009, 08:44:13 AM

Quote from: leechmann on June 11, 2009, 11:14:34 PM
Danno, are you putting any air vent in the hive box?

No air vents. Its early enough that overheating isn't a issue and I believe darkness is more desirable to the swarms