How close to a bee tree should you set a swarm trap?

[enchplant]

Some folks suggest it might be better to have swarm traps half  a mile away from a bee trap, but I have seen a bee tree with another bee tree right beside it. How close to a bee tree have people placed traps and been successful?

[JP]

I'd place the first one fifty feet from the tree, another 150' & another 100 yards. That should cover all your bases. Just yesterday I looked at a condo that had scouts entering a small hole for a few days in a row. When I got there there was no activity, possibly due to the impending bad weather we are now having. I sealed the hole and did some caulking but the building needs more TLC only a handy man or carpenter can give. I informed the manager & the tenant that there is likely an established colony nearby that is about to swarm. While I was doing my work they were searching the grounds. A very active colony was found entering a knot in a tree about 75' from the condo. I've caught many swarms over the yrs in the vicinity of the established colony that cast them. Place the first trap 50' from the tree & so on.


...JP

[Michael Bush]

I'd say ideal is 1/4 mile.  But right under it works most of the time.