- Joined
- Jul 23, 2009
- Messages
- 36,567
- Reaction score
- 17,171
- Location
- Ceredigion
- Hive Type
- 14x12
- Number of Hives
- 6
I can see where you are coming from, the problem is the protein goes rank very quickly and very expensive to keep running, not effective imo either.
I'll explain why I dont think protein traps near beehives work, no science, just a few years watching AH's
An Asian Hornet will always take a live bee over a trap near a hive be it a protein or sugar trap. Lately I have spotted them taking dead bees from the front of the hive, something new to me. If a young inexperienced hornet hovers for a few minutes and tires after a unsuccessful hunt they may opt for a sugar trap. They like fondant, feeders they can get near or failing that traps. The best traps imo are ones with live insects in, especially other hornets, I accidentally left a honey jar out that I was feeding sugar solution to the bees, topped with cling film and a hole about the size of a 50p piece in the top, within 30 minutes it had caught around 30 hornets.
What they use in traps here are equal quantities of white wine, lager and a drink like ribena, my best success is with just what I feed my bees, 3.5-1 (water-sugar) I add a live hornet which keeps the bees away so you might need to add some beer.
Thanks for that. Very very useful.