Lemon Grass oil

[John Adams]

This is my first year as a beekeeper so i have many questions for you guys. Next spring I plan to catch several swarms from hives I have found way up in trees. I read where lemongrass oil is used as an attractant, but I have no idea where to get it?


                                                      john

[AllenF]

I got mine from Ebay, but you can find it at most health food stores.   

[John Adams]

I figured I could get it online somewhere, but hadn't looked yet. In today's time I try to buy everything from the local small business owners. I'll keep the internet source in mind if I can't find any locally.Thank you for the fast reply. John

[AllenF]

Anytime.

[rast]

 Check local heath food stores. Not all carry it. For inhalation only for mood enhancement.

[Kathyp]

i get mine from ebay also.  there are a number of good essential oil stores on there.  watch for the free shipping deals.  that's when i stock up.

[L Daxon]

It may not last as long, but I used Lemon Pledge sprayed in a cardboard box earlier this spring when I was doing a swarm capture and the bees sure went for it. (heard that tip at the last state bkeeps' mtg.)  After I got home and hived the swarm I just left the cardboard box on my back porch and bees were still clearly attracted to the box for days.

I have since figured out by watching JP that using an attractrant in your box like that might not be such a good idea.  If you have collected the queen, she is going to naturally cause the swarm to go into the box.  If you have sprayed the box (nuc, etc) with Lemon Pledge you don't know if the bees are going into the box because of the Pledge or because you got the queen.  Of course JP has eagle eyes and can usually spot the queen but I haven't developed that skill, yet.  But seeing all the girls march into the box is a good indication that the queen is in there (assuming you haven't used any scents to attract them.)

Now if you are talking about using the lemongrass as a lure to get the swarm to land where you want them to in the first place,  that is a different kettle of fish altogether, I think.

[JP]

Lemon grass oil is a good attractant, so is a piece of old comb, I like both.

Sometimes lemon grass oil is just what the doctor ordered when trying to get a hive, either a swarm or a colony from a removal to orient to your set up.

Its like having a trick up your sleeve, and sometimes that's what it takes to get the job done.


...JP

[tecumseh]

Idaxon writes:
It may not last as long, but I used Lemon Pledge

tecumseh:
nice tip... thanks.

[JP]

I have looked at some debates on lemon pledge usage and a few things had come to surface regarding pledge's ingredients being possibly harmful to bees.

I would suggest using pledge if you're going to use it, inside of a vial of some type. Some dot a cotton ball with lemon grass and enclose it inside one of those plastic medicine containers. Bud does this.

Just my .02


...JP

[L Daxon]

I never noticed any die off or ill effects from the lemon pledge, but I just used it that once, and it was a pretty small swarm.   I just sprayed onto the inside of the cardboard box that I knew I was going to dispose of.  You might not want to spray in directly onto woodenware you are going to have in regular use.

I like JP's idea of putting it on a cotton ball or some way having it partially contained, if you are going to use it.  I used it because I already had it on hand.

What about spraying with some Honey Be Healthy syrup?  Would that work as an attractant? It sure has some strong scents.  Or would that just act to cover up the queen's scent?

[AllenF]

Lemon grass oil in a similar scent to the queen.  I don't think honey b healthy would work well.   It may mask too much.  Maybe someone could try and pour some on top if a hive this weekend and see how the bee act around it.