Anyone making legit swarm lures

[beesleybees]

Hi guys,

Would like to try my luck attracting some swas this year, put a few bait gives out last year but had no interest, hoping some swarm lures might sway it in my direction. Anyone making legit nasanov swarm lures that would sell me a few? Pointless buying the stuff to make it myself as I would never use it all

Hope someone can help

 

[simoncav]

Vita make a swarm attractant that we have used successfully. It comes in a series of sealed packets like those servette things you get with aircraft meals.

http://www.vita-europe.com/products/honeybee-swarm-attractant-wipe/

 

[BeeJayBee]

Try using lemongrass oil, you can buy it from H+B.

 

[fatshark]

Ditto lemongrass on an old tatty frame … and you can get it from a well known auction site for much less ;-) Follow Seeley's recommendations for bait hives - 40 litres, small entrance, south facing, solid floor. Should work just fine.

 

[For want of a better word]

Try using lemongrass oil, you can buy it from H+B.

Make sure it is C citratus... C winterii is an insect repellant !
Both sold as lemongrass and smell the same to us!!!
Sure I have said that before?

Yeghes da

 

[Gilberdyke John]

Hi guys,

Would like to try my luck attracting some swas this year, put a few bait gives out last year but had no interest, hoping some swarm lures might sway it in my direction. Anyone making legit nasanov swarm lures that would sell me a few? Pointless buying the stuff to make it myself as I would never use it all

Hope someone can help

Is there an effective non-legit lure?

 

[einsteinagogo]

Hi guys,

Would like to try my luck attracting some swas this year, put a few bait gives out last year but had no interest, hoping some swarm lures might sway it in my direction. Anyone making legit nasanov swarm lures that would sell me a few? Pointless buying the stuff to make it myself as I would never use it all

Hope someone can help

old "manky" comb works for me, and old "non-flamed" brood boxes, I've got to be careful in the swarm season, last year swarms were turning up all the time! (and had to bee proof my bee shed!).

I could easily have hived 20+ last year, ran out of kit, after 10!

 

[B+.]

ran out of kit, after 10!

Isn't that one of the unwritten rules of beekeeping: "You can never have enough kit"?

 

[beesleybees]

Thanks for the replies guys but I was told that lemon grass oil on its own isn't as good as the the other stuff that mimics the smell of a queen. Read about it last year but the lab grade reagents were quite expensive to guy and too much for what I need

Any idea when the first swarms should be about?

 

[kathrynat]

I had about six swarms move in last year and I didn't use lures. I use an old hive with a solid floor with a small entrance and a few frames with nice old dark wax. I have used lemongrass oil but I have the same results without.

 

[alldigging]

Squashed queen cells?

 

[einsteinagogo]

Isn't that one of the unwritten rules of beekeeping: "You can never have enough kit"?

it is, but 10 colonies is enough! they were united before the winter!

 

[BeeJayBee]

Any idea when the first swarms should be about?

Somebody's already reported collecting a swarm.

 

[Cazza]

Somebody's already reported collecting a swarm.

Where and when?
Cazza

 

[BeeJayBee]

Saw the comment a few days ago on another site; east midlands general area; somebody who may also be a member of this forum.

 

[domino]

I've never tried bait hives, what's the hit rate?

I put empty hives out in the spring to use for swarm control and seal them up until use them.

No reason I couldn't put some old comb in them if it's worth it.

 

[einsteinagogo]

I've never tried bait hives, what's the hit rate?

I put empty hives out in the spring to use for swarm control and seal them up until use them.

No reason I couldn't put some old comb in them if it's worth it.

for me, and depends on season maybe!

2013 - three hives left out, three arrived, once absconded.

2014 - over-run, and finding it difficult to stop swarms going into any kit, left out! 10+ (100%). gave other's away.

 

[alldigging]

I've never tried bait hives, what's the hit rate?
.

Him indoors made me this box. It was going to be took a 100m+ away from the allotment but ended up being left on top of my compost bin for a week or so...


https://flic.kr/p/rNZ7P7

baitboxworked by Northwestengland, on Flickr

 

[BeeJayBee]

Saw the comment a few days ago on another site; east midlands general area; somebody who may also be a member of this forum.

Sorry. My mistake, wrong area, it was Henley. Date suggests the swarm was 12th or 13th March.

"date posted 27 March
Already picked up a swarm 2 weeks ago ... "

 

[domino]

I've got some lemongrass oil now and am going to give this bee trapping a go. How much oil to you put on the old frames?