- Joined
- May 4, 2012
- Messages
- 126
- Reaction score
- 0
- Location
- Somerset
- Hive Type
- Langstroth
- Number of Hives
- 2
I always leave spare hives out throughout the season so that any swarms can move in. I consider this a service to the local community because I hope a swarm will move into a bait hive in preference to someones chimney.
For the past 4 years swarms have arrived in my apiary which have not come from any of my colonies. My suspicion is they come from a community (natural) farm about a mile away.
I was quite surprised that twice these swarms have chosen the larger Dadant hives for their new home but each time these have been large swarms.
This year I decided to experiment to see what hive type a swarm might find most attractive. I put out 5 different brood box hives, all with old comb and a couple of drops of lemon grass oil:
Two standard wooden Nationals, one OMF, one solid floor.
Two Langstroth One OMF, one solid floor
One Dadant with solid floor.
Towards the end of the earlier hot spell there were a lot of scout bees. Most were looking around the Dadant hive but no swarm. I did not see any scouts during the following spell of colder weather.
Last week scouts were back and it seemed most were interested in the Dadant hive and the Langstroth with solid floor.
On Friday a swarm arrived and moved into the solid floor Langstroth.
This is obviously not a scientific experiment but my current thoughts based on this and previous experience are:
1. Solid floors are preferred to OMF.
2. The size of the swarm may affect the choice of home.
3. The advice that a standard National Brood box is best for attracting swarms may not be correct.
For the past 4 years swarms have arrived in my apiary which have not come from any of my colonies. My suspicion is they come from a community (natural) farm about a mile away.
I was quite surprised that twice these swarms have chosen the larger Dadant hives for their new home but each time these have been large swarms.
This year I decided to experiment to see what hive type a swarm might find most attractive. I put out 5 different brood box hives, all with old comb and a couple of drops of lemon grass oil:
Two standard wooden Nationals, one OMF, one solid floor.
Two Langstroth One OMF, one solid floor
One Dadant with solid floor.
Towards the end of the earlier hot spell there were a lot of scout bees. Most were looking around the Dadant hive but no swarm. I did not see any scouts during the following spell of colder weather.
Last week scouts were back and it seemed most were interested in the Dadant hive and the Langstroth with solid floor.
On Friday a swarm arrived and moved into the solid floor Langstroth.
This is obviously not a scientific experiment but my current thoughts based on this and previous experience are:
1. Solid floors are preferred to OMF.
2. The size of the swarm may affect the choice of home.
3. The advice that a standard National Brood box is best for attracting swarms may not be correct.
