making a swarm tree?

ldeano · April 12, 2016, 05:03:21 PM

Just had a weird idea, and thought I would ask. We have a beek in our club that has a tree in his yard that swarms land in multiple times a year, so much so that he calls it his "swarm tree". I have heard of this before that for some reason or another once a swarm has landed in an area other swarms can be drawn to the same area. Is this correct or unfounded? Secondly can you artificially make a "swarm tree" by maybe rubbing beeswax on a limb or by other means? Just one of the random ideas that popped into my head.

little john · April 12, 2016, 05:54:35 PM

Going way back as far as the Middle Ages, beekeepers in some European countries have erected a tall pole within their apiaries with various items (such as hessian sacks loaded with propolis, or old combs) attached to a rope running through a pulley at the top, not unlike a flag-pole, and often leaning at an angle.

The idea of these is to give an issuing swarm somewhere convenient to cluster, at which time the cluster can be lowered to the ground and recovered. These devices do have a name, but for the life of me, I can't remember what it is ...

LJ

Tommy · April 12, 2016, 11:14:00 PM

This may not work for everyone but I have a cedar tree about 20' tall and about 30' away from hives and about 9 out of 10 times the swarm will go to it and not high up.

Wombat2 · April 13, 2016, 04:44:59 AM

According to some hiving insects will place their homes along lay lines - the strongest colonies being at the intersection of lay lines. I have 4 termite nests on the intersection of lay lines and I collected a swarm at the intersection of a 3 lay lines which was in a tree that is riddled with termites. Laugh if you must but I am placing my new apiary along a lay line - because I can.

little john · April 13, 2016, 05:39:51 AM

Quote from: little john on April 12, 2016, 05:54:35 PM
These devices do have a name, but for the life of me, I can't remember what it is ...

They're called 'Russian Scions':

http://www.beesource.com/forums/showthread.php?303234-The-Russian-Scion

These are for use in existing apiaries of course, and should not to be confused with swarm traps used outside of apiaries.

LJ

SlickMick · April 13, 2016, 08:42:22 AM

I just have to give them a go. They sound great

Mick

KeyLargoBees · April 13, 2016, 09:19:00 AM

thats a neat idea...I have some old comb from cutouts that is so cocooned the wax value is almost nil.....I might give this a go....sort of a swarm pinata :-)

Michael Bush · April 13, 2016, 11:44:59 AM

A few drops of lemongrass essential oil will work. Some queen juice will up the odds. Put on a low branch with empty space below it for the box...

ldeano · April 14, 2016, 01:45:49 PM

Well that settles that, I am going to try it. thanks everyone for the replies.
Dean

little john · May 04, 2016, 06:16:38 AM

Thought I'd have a go at this - using an 18ft pole I had planned to use for an Arab Dhow sail-plan (which never materialised) :

It's just trussed up with ropes for now - if it works, then I'll make a tripod stand for it.

I've got a couple of PITA* colonies I'll allow to swarm, and see if it works.
LJ

[* PITA = Pain In The Aris ]

SlickMick · July 28, 2016, 09:03:40 AM

Hey LJ did they work for you?

Mick

little john · July 29, 2016, 06:52:28 AM

Hello Mick - can't say - at least not yet. I've got several hives that are busting at the seams, but they just won't swarm. I'm pretty sure this is because of the weather - we've had one of the wettest summers in memory - it's rained on most days. ... and it's even raining as I write this.

Maybe in a few weeks we'll see a swarm or three ? Will keep you posted.
LJ

SlickMick · July 29, 2016, 07:38:55 AM

Looking forward to hearing more about their success (when it happens of course)

Mick

mtnb · July 29, 2016, 08:38:08 AM

Quote from: KeyLargoBees on April 13, 2016, 09:19:00 AM
thats a neat idea...I have some old comb from cutouts that is so cocooned the wax value is almost nil.....I might give this a go....sort of a swarm pinata :-)

Lol you make me laugh Jeff. Don't you have one of these trees in your yard? Haven't you caught like 10 off of it? Your very own sweet spot? lol

I love that idea with the pole. You are always so full of information little john. I'm gonna try that next year.

Hops Brewster · August 02, 2016, 01:05:27 PM

interesting concepts. I happen to have hops trellis erected several feet in front of my apiary. It would be brain-dead simple to rig a scion of some form on a rope to the top of the trellis. And I'm pretty sure I have an old planter bucket in the shed waiting for re-purpose. I'm good to go!

Michael Bush · August 03, 2016, 11:37:39 AM

Here's one we were making at bee camp this year:
http://www.bushfarms.com/images/BeeCamp2016/SwarmSpot1.jpg

It's a roof of two one by twelves about 24" or so with a piece of burlap dipped in beeswax and treated with lemongrass essential oil. It fits into a 3" PVC pipe base we buried. If a swarm lands you just pick it up and tip it down to a hive. Haven't caught one yet, though, by the time we were done they were done swarming.
http://www.bushfarms.com/images/BeeCamp2016/Swarm6.jpg

little john · August 05, 2016, 02:36:31 PM

Quote from: MT Bee Girl on July 29, 2016, 08:38:08 AM

I love that idea with the pole. You are always so full of information little john. I'm gonna try that next year.

Just a quick update - still haven't had a hive swarm yet - BUT - I noticed today that there was some thistle down sticking to the underneath of the plant pot. So - I lowered it to discover that some enterprising spiders have moved in ....

So - whatever you make your swarm catcher from, suggest you make it removeable/ dismantleable/ cleanable. I now need to modify the inside of that plant pot which is fixed in place - but that's tomorrow's job ...
LJ