Swarm Lures - any good?

[Moobee]

so... I've taken the plunge and bought the hive ready for bees (a cedar National). Attended my first beginners class and seem to have filled up 10 pages of notes - SO much info... and three more classes this month including practical experience plus I should be able to visit the local BKA apiary soon.
I might be able to get a nuc from the apiary but this isn't guaranteed and the cost of bees is mad! I was reading about swarm lures as a potential way to get free bees? Anyone have an experience of using them? Am I mad to even consider this option? All comments welcome!

 

[bingevader]

I think the accepted advice would be to bite the bullet and buy a nuc from your association or a reputable provider to begin with.
That way, you know what you are getting.
Swarms can be unreliable, both in terms of waiting to catch one and also what the swarm will be like in temperament and any bugs they might have.
I routinely put out bait hives and use swarm wipes, but it isn't a reliable way of acquiring some bees.
We've had years where there hasn't been a whiff of a swarm and other years where we haven't had enough bait hives.

 

[tonyofarr]

Hi Moobee, I agree with bingevader, buying a nuc is a better way to start, that way you will get healthy bees with a young queen and a good temperament. Some bka sell nucs to their new members, or they will be able to tell you who to buy a nuc from.

We love Bracklesham Bay by the way, used to go fossil hunting on the beach when we lived in Sussex.

 

[For want of a better word]

Hi Moobee, I agree with bingevader, buying a nuc is a better way to start, that way you will get healthy bees with a young queen and a good temperament. Some bka sell nucs to their new members, or they will be able to tell you who to buy a nuc from.

We love Bracklesham Bay by the way, used to go fossil hunting on the beach when we lived in Sussex.

Memories of beach parties in the dunes and racing ( impromptu) motorcycles on the sand..... would not be allowed today!

Buy a nuc of local bees ( Ones imported from Italy/ Gozo / Malta and other Covid 19 infected areas will be in very short supply... hopefully!!)

As for swarm lures.... only work if place on intersection of ley lines and at least 2 meters up... on a waning moon when Sirus is rising and Pluto is in conjunction with Uranus!

Chons da

 

[Ian123]

Get a nuc if you can as suggested above. Failing that yes swarm lures work and in conjunction with some old comb or wax starter strips work even better.

 

[Moobee]

Memories of beach parties in the dunes and racing ( impromptu) motorcycles on the sand..... would not be allowed today!

Buy a nuc of local bees ( Ones imported from Italy/ Gozo / Malta and other Covid 19 infected areas will be in very short supply... hopefully!!)

As for swarm lures.... only work if place on intersection of ley lines and at least 2 meters up... on a waning moon when Sirus is rising and Pluto is in conjunction with Uranus!

Chons da

beach parties in dunes still allowed but no BBQs since someone set light to the grass a few years ago!

 

[Swarm]

Does your association have anyone prepared to mentor? Reason I ask is partly your comment about high prices and the advice about buying a nuc. There is no reason other than a huge number of beginners, why an association can't supply nucs and a lot cheaper than suppliers. Rarely see it, sadly.
My advice would be to attend the practicals and try to find someone who you can help and learn from. If that someone was me, you would have a nucleus of bees to take home to your own hive and honey for your larder. You would know the bees already, probably having helped create them. I hope you can find someone.
Good luck.

 

[Moobee]

thanks! wished I lived closer....