idg
House Bee
- Joined
- Mar 26, 2014
- Messages
- 307
- Reaction score
- 1
- Location
- Midlands
- Hive Type
- National
- Number of Hives
- 7
I have not seen that many swarms, but in the 3 years I have been keeping bees I have seen two from my apiary. Both made their initial congregation within about 15 feet of the hives. One was on the underside of a fence cross beam, adjacent to the post, and one was in the lower branches of a tree. But I have been thinking, (dangerous I know), but is it possible to create a favoured place for swarming bees to congregate? I was thinking of a post sunk into the ground so that it stands upright about 6 feet. Then off the top of this. mount a 600 x 600 board in the horizontal plane, fixed with a bolt and wing nut or something easily removable.
The assembly would be in the apiary, and could have a dose of lemon grass every now and then.The idea being that in the event of a swarm, the bees have got a place they are "more" likely to congregate in. If you were lucky enough to succeed to get a swarm hanging on the underside of the board, you could simply unbolt it and drop it on top of a brood box and floor.
Does anyone use this sort of tactic? What are the levels of success? What shapes/designs are used?
The assembly would be in the apiary, and could have a dose of lemon grass every now and then.The idea being that in the event of a swarm, the bees have got a place they are "more" likely to congregate in. If you were lucky enough to succeed to get a swarm hanging on the underside of the board, you could simply unbolt it and drop it on top of a brood box and floor.
Does anyone use this sort of tactic? What are the levels of success? What shapes/designs are used?
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