Too early for swarm traps?

[Do224]

Looks like I might be able to expect yet another swarm in my 'lucky' bait box soon. They seem to like this one no matter where it's located!
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See this is the sort of behaviour I expected to see.....I don’t understand why they’re bunching around the entrance so much at my trap??

Good luck, hope you catch em!

 

[Erichalfbee]

See this is the sort of behaviour I expected to see.....I don’t understand why they’re bunching around the entrance so much at my trap??

Good luck, hope you catch em!

You’re like an expectant father. Calm down

 

[Do224]

You’re like an expectant father. Calm down

I know, I know....the excitement is too much

 

[gwt_uk]

One of my bait hives is still getting tremendous attention....it’s been like this for most of the week. Is it odd that the bees are grouping around the entrance so much....or normal? They do go in and out as well but I’ve been wondering if the frames which are right behind the entrance are putting them off? Maybe a design flaw on my part. Do you think I should open the box up and remove the frames from behind the entrance hole to give a clearer flight in? Or should I leave well alone and I’m fussing over nothing? The frames are empty, they just have a one inch starter strip at the top...

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good activity there! I say leave it be and see what happens. The bees visiting my bait hive have also been collecting round the entrance at times. They don’t seem to have trouble getting in and out though

 

[nettle]

Quick newbie question! I'm wanting to put out a couple of empty brood boxes as bait hives, and my friend has some old comb I can use - but they're super frames, not brood. She said she thinks it's the smell of old brood they're attracted to. Is it worth trying with the super frames, or does it need to be old brood comb?

 

[Erichalfbee]

Try it.
I paint the inside of my bait hives with propolis and I suspect it doesn’t matter what frames go in it.

 

[Do224]

Looks like I might be able to expect yet another swarm in my 'lucky' bait box soon. They seem to like this one no matter where it's located!
View attachment 26512

Did a swarm materialise?

 

[drdrday]

Did a swarm materialise?

Not yet! The number of scouts really dropped off yesterday so I think perhaps someone finally did some swarm control. Still some interest though, so you never know...

 

[Do224]

I’ll write a proper update later but this is what’s happening in my garden at the minute.....absolutely unreal

 

[Antipodes]

Well there you go!.

Brilliant!

 

[Do224]

Bit concerned they’re not heading into the box....any advice? It’s been absolutely fantastic to watch.View attachment 15E7EDAF-9739-488A-A712-4A19D9FB629F.MOV

 

[Antipodes]

I’ll write a proper update later but this is what’s happening in my garden at the minute.....absolutely unreal

Bit concerned they’re not heading into the box....any advice? It’s been absolutely fantastic to watch.
View attachment 26560

Perhaps they are waiting for the queen to go in?

 

[Nannysbees]

I know, I know....the excitement is too much

Don't worry in exactly the same a year on

 

[Do224]

Still just hanging there...can’t believe how many there is

 

[madasafish]

...is that "manky" brood combs?

Yes: grotty.

 

[Erichalfbee]

The swarm we got yesterday sat outside for hours so when Stan put the frames In he just scooped them up with his hands and put them in the box. They were all in at night time

 

[Do224]

The swarm we got yesterday sat outside for hours so when Stan put the frames In he just scooped them up with his hands and put them in the box. They were all in at night time

If I were to brush them into a box should I use smoke?

 

[Swarm]

I wouldn't brush them, a scoop of some kind would be best or your hands and ladle them in. If you put frames in there I think they will soon start trooping in.
Well done!! Worth the wait?

 

[user 819]

Wear nitriles and gently cup them in with your hand.

 

[Do224]

Just been out and think they’ve gone in! I say ‘think’ because I’m pretty sure that’s the queen (top right)....she falls off but she does fly back to the face of the box and starts running around again...at one point she went inside, but came out again a couple of minutes later

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