Bait hives

[Machonachos]

Hi all,

I’m new to all this, did some hands on sessions with local association but have all my kit to start my own colonies this year.

I intend on buying bees but have placed a couple of bait hives out following the usual guidelines in case I get lucky. My question is what is the best course of action if I do capture a swarm?

- how long should you leave the swarm in the bait hive before shaking into a fresh brood box?

- what precautions should one take against the swarm having AFB/EFB?

- any other guidance?

Thanks

 

[Barbarian]

I transfer an occupied bait hive to the permanent hive position within a couple of days of the swarm arriving. After a few days of settling to the new position, the frames of bees are transferred into their permanent hive. I don't shake the bees in.
Leaving a swarm in a bait hive for a long time could get you a mess of wild comb to sort out.
A bait hive near to an established hive doesn't usually work. Swarms seem to prefer a few hundred yards separation.

 

[Karsal]

I use Paynes poly nucs as bait hives with the feeder cut out making it an 8 frame. I also close the OMF floor from the outside. I place a 1 frame of old comb and 7 empty frames of foundation.
A few drops of lemongrass oil on a few frames then place the hive about six foot up on my conifers. 3 swarms in the same position arrived over the summer period.
Once inside the hive after dark I close them up and remove the bottom cover from the OMF.
I release them the following evening up near my apiary from the same nuc.

This works for me

 

[MartinL]

Hi all,

- how long should you leave the swarm in the bait hive before shaking into a fresh brood box?

Close them in on the 1st evening, you know they are there.

- what precautions should one take against the swarm having AFB/EFB?

A second "Quarantine" site is a bit of a luxury. If you know there is disease in the area leave all but your own swarms to others!

 

[Eyeman]

Still waiting for that elusive quorum!

 

[fatshark]

A bait hive near to an established hive doesn't usually work. Swarms seem to prefer a few hundred yards separation.

Not what the scientific studies by Seeley and other show ... they prefer shorter distances, ~20m rather than ~400m.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Not what the scientific studies by Seeley and other show ... they prefer shorter distances, ~20m rather than ~400m.

To set up home or to bivouac?
My swarms have always flown further than I can keep up being lost over the horizon.

 

[Beefriendly]

Not what the scientific studies by Seeley and other show ... they prefer shorter distances, ~20m rather than ~400m.

The caveats being that these findings are based mainly on Americanized Italian bees and artificially generated swarms, not naturally issued ones. As I recall they initially preferred a local chimney on the Island to any of Seeley's boxes.
Lindauer was used to chasing his natural swarms through the streets of Berlin to find out where they went. These were not Italian bees, presumably Amm's.
In the days before I clipped my queens I never ever caught one of my own swarms with my bait hives in the garden. They all preferred pastures new and far away....these were local mongrels.
I suspect we still have lots to learn.

 

[alfazer]

Don't mean to hijack the thread but can I ask...

When the bees swarm do they go immediately to the bait hive or do they still hang in a tree (or wherever) for a while and then move in?
I had a bait hive about 25 metres from my apiary last year and a swarm moved in, but I was at work and missed the event. Just curious.

 

[The Poot in Somerset]

Don't mean to hijack the thread but can I ask...

When the bees swarm do they go immediately to the bait hive or do they still hang in a tree (or wherever) for a while and then move in?
I had a bait hive about 25 metres from my apiary last year and a swarm moved in, but I was at work and missed the event. Just curious.

They generally hang around while "scouts" check out all the possible new homes. They then somehow come to a consensus on which place to go and then pile in there. Coming to a consensus can take up to a few days in some cases.
Last Summer a swarm in my neighbours garden, too high to reach, took a day and a half to decide my bait hive was good enough.

 

[taurus]

Round here swarms seem to be attracted to other apiary sites. I left an empty nuc only a few feet from my hives and a swarm went straight for it.

A neighbour had the same, unfortunately he didn't have enough spare equipment or space so he ended up asking me to take them in.

Of the two swarms I collected last year one was lovely and I gave them to a friend who had lost his bees. The other were superb until they started to store honey and then they turned viscous - as in attacking on sight the moment you got within 30 yards of the hive.

This year I am staying well clear of any swarms - not taking the chance of getting another nasty lot to deal with.

 

[simonforeman]

Just a question on this topic....

How far will a swarm fly / scout for a new home?

Reason I ask is I have seen some hives about 5miles away from my place but not seen any others but there may be some. If I put up a bait hive wondering what my chances are for success......

 

[Erichalfbee]

Your chances are excellent particularly as there are probably many more nearby hives than you are aware of. If you are registered on Beebase you can find out.

 

[simonforeman]

I will have a look thanks.... And the best location to put box... sunny site, height, open area or in a tree?

I have 8 foot hedges around my garden..

 

[Apiarisnt]

Tree, south facing and if possible 5m high, otherwise as high as you can get.

 

[Eyeman]

Came across this article by a guy who has tested out most of the different lures.
Not that scientific but he does a good summary.
Interesting that lemongrass oil proved more effective than (expensive) synthetic Nasonov pheromone

https://www.dropbox.com/s/kwqizkdfhk9mrpg/swarm lures.pdf?dl=0

 

[Wingy]

Visited the mother in laws today where I left a bait hive in her garden. About 1030 hrs there must have been about 50 bees coming and going all gone by 1200 hrs except the odd 1 or 2. Fingers crossed they will be back soon

 

[enrico]

Don't mean to hijack the thread but can I ask...

When the bees swarm do they go immediately to the bait hive or do they still hang in a tree (or wherever) for a while and then move in?
I had a bait hive about 25 metres from my apiary last year and a swarm moved in, but I was at work and missed the event. Just curious.

Probably from a different apiary, I agree with previous comments, my swarms go miles away but other people's bees come to my apiary!!!!
E

 

[tom8400]

I'd hive them asap had a swarm go in a bait box 7frame nuc with two frames of drawn Combe and two empty frames they started going in at 14:30 and appeared to be in at 17:00 but between then and 18:00 they disappeared while I was setting a hive up so seems like you have to be quick once they go in, they may change their minds

 

[simonforeman]

I have a couple of big trees that look ideal for bait hives... they are a bit open to he element and can get windy as it's flat round here will these be ok for more bait hives?