Is it worth setting swarm traps?

[GavB]

I know there is a few people around my area who keep bees and its somewhat a rural area. Is it worth setting swarm traps, ive seen a product called swarm lure. Does anyone practice this and what hives/products do they use? or is it a waste of time.

I had a hive swarm last year, its somewhat disheartening watching money blow away in the wind lol

 

[Ian123]

Yes get some traps out they are worth doing, usefull size anything from 6 frame nuc to single broods give the right volume imo. Get them off the ground and shed/flat roofs are ideal in sunny locations. Yes swarm lure is worth it but a few old combs as black as you like do the trick, use 1 or the other or combine. I stick a bait hive up at all sites, soon tells you if any are even interested in swarming as often scout bees can be out days before the swarm goes. In an ideal world bait hives operate better if a little distance from original hive so get 1 in a friends house down the road as well.

 

[For want of a better word]

Yes get some traps out they are worth doing, usefull size anything from 6 frame nuc to single broods give the right volume imo. Get them off the ground and shed/flat roofs are ideal in sunny locations. Yes swarm lure is worth it but a few old combs as black as you like do the trick, use 1 or the other or combine. I stick a bait hive up at all sites, soon tells you if any are even interested in swarming as often scout bees can be out days before the swarm goes. In an ideal world bait hives operate better if a little distance from original hive so get 1 in a friends house down the road as well.

Also set the bait hives up on Ley lines... or where you know where bees have swarmed to before.....
BUT please respect othre beekeeperers in the area... really pisses me of when I find a bait hive set right on my apiary boundary.... Billie the goat usually comes along and tipps it over.... or splashes it with stale Tom Cats Pee!!!

 

[Funny honey]

Just make sure you have the equipment to deal with any swarms you catch. Best to be prepared

 

[Poly Hive]

I find the essential oil works well coupled with some nice old comb. Lemongrass oil.

PH

 

[JazzJPH]

I've been thinking of making my first nuc/poly hive a swarm trap and just seeing what happens while I wait for my beekeeping course and read up on beekeeping.

Then I wonder what would happen if I catch a swarm and have no equipment :

Will probably give it a go. Worst case I'll ask someone local to take them away

 

[Curly green fingers]

I find the essential oil works well coupled with some nice old comb. Lemongrass oil.

PH

I agree this works really well as a lure. my friend even uses lemon grass oil spray for uniting colony's
With good results . Have you tried it for uniting colony's pH.

 

[Poly Hive]

TBH? No.

ITLD enthuses about air freshener but I haven't plucked up the courage to try that so I stick to my tried and tested newspaper.

Re baiting a swarm.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YI5DyvvA6Jw&t=44s

PH

 

[alfazer]

I tried a bait hive last year with success. Was only about 20 metres from my hives. I keep my killed queens in a little jar of alcohol and rub some in the bait hive. Plus a frame of old comb in there too.

 

[simonforeman]

First year beekeeping last year and caught 2 in the same tree, neither were mine. Lemon grass oil and 1 old comb in a ply 5 frame nuc.....

I have heard some beeks saying that there could be allot of early swarms this year and people getting caught out fit to the size of some colonies already.... thoughts?

 

[Newbeeneil]

Essential reading if setting up bait hives.
https://ecommons.cornell.edu/bitstr...ves for Honey Bees.pdf?sequence=2&isAllowed=y

I put 5 bait hives up last year and caught 9 swarms over the season. I normally put an old comb in there if I have one but always put a couple of wired frames with a started strip.
A few drops of lemon grass oil works wonders.

On the air freshener subject I tried it to unite two colonies last year and found it brilliant and quick compared with uniting via newspaper. I would recommend.

 

[Curly green fingers]

TBH? No.

ITLD enthuses about air freshener but I haven't plucked up the courage to try that so I stick to my tried and tested newspaper.

Re baiting a swarm.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YI5DyvvA6Jw&t=44s

PH

Apologies to the op .
I think keep the air freshener for freshening the air .
I'm a news paper man any preference local or national

 

[Beefriendly]

No disrespect intended to anyone's preferred methods of uniting colonies. You need to unite with a method you feel confident with. Newspaper or whatever.
I use air freshener...works every time...but you need a bit of confidence that it will work....and before anyone asks....any freshener works.

 

[Curly green fingers]

No disrespect intended to anyone's preferred methods of uniting colonies. You need to unite with a method you feel confident with. Newspaper or whatever.
I use air freshener...works every time...but you need a bit of confidence that it will work....and before anyone asks....any freshener works.

Or lemon grass spray

 

[Beefriendly]

Or lemon grass spray

Or whatever scent you fancy...it works.
Need a broad sheet newspaper to cover a national frame ...Telegraph works well

 

[Ian123]

BUT please respect othre beekeeperers in the area... really pisses me of when I find a bait hive set right on my apiary boundary.... Billie the goat usually comes along and tipps it over.... or splashes it with stale Tom Cats Pee!!!

They are just jokers they need to be a little down the road for best results and you cant see them

 

[Millet]

Also set the bait hives up on Ley lines... or where you know where bees have swarmed to before.....
BUT please respect othre beekeeperers in the area... really pisses me of when I find a bait hive set right on my apiary boundary.... Billie the goat usually comes along and tipps it over.... or splashes it with stale Tom Cats Pee!!!

If you told the truth like me and every other beekeeper on the forum.. ..you would not have to worry about other folks swarm traps because you have done your swarm control correctly..and me like everyone else on here never looses any swarms..

 

[Cuckmere couple]

i caught 3 last year and they were all in full size nationals and they ignored the nucs

im interested in that if you get a swarm from a tree or whatever, some people shake the bees direct into the box...(ive done so successfully) and others put a sheet down and allow the bees to walk into the hive

benefits/point of doing this second way?

 

[Hebeegeebee]

I set up a bait box with old comb a couple of years' ago - various things got into the hive to make a mess of the comb - but no bees!
I have had swarms arrive (not mine) when NOT planning for it - but that's beekeeping for you.

 

[Curly green fingers]

This was a swarm of mine last year in the middle of June double brood they
Didn't go very far from the hive only about five metres but ended up in a liquid amber tree 12 ft high or so , this was in the afternoon and I had a shock when I went to the river apiary to do my inspection's .
Picture on the right is the river teme apiary last June, the swarm came out of the first hive on the left.

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