Author Topic: Show your swarm traps  (Read 37789 times)

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Offline JanO

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Re: Show your swarm traps
« Reply #20 on: January 02, 2014, 09:48:45 am »
Has anyone ever used a nuc to trap bees?  I have 2 nucs that my hubby insist will do the job, rather than using a regular trap.  I'm not so sure that it's going to work though.  He wants to place them close to a tree that tends to attract a swarm every year.

Offline robo

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Re: Show your swarm traps
« Reply #21 on: January 02, 2014, 10:09:00 am »
I thought there would be more pics by now.What's going on?

OK,  guess I need to share my super secret swarm trap, but I won't share the precise angle or what is under the black tape.  8)



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Offline riverbee

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Re: Show your swarm traps
« Reply #22 on: January 02, 2014, 10:45:42 am »
i love it robo!
i keep wild things in a box..........™
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Offline LazyBkpr

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Re: Show your swarm traps
« Reply #23 on: January 02, 2014, 11:39:47 am »
LOL!!
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Offline jb63

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Re: Show your swarm traps
« Reply #24 on: January 03, 2014, 12:43:57 am »
Yes janO, a nuc will work.If you check it and they are overflowing just move them into a ten frame.
I don't know.It was like that when I got here.

Offline LazyBkpr

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Re: Show your swarm traps
« Reply #25 on: January 03, 2014, 12:51:19 am »
Has anyone ever used a nuc to trap bees?  I have 2 nucs that my hubby insist will do the job, rather than using a regular trap.  I'm not so sure that it's going to work though.  He wants to place them close to a tree that tends to attract a swarm every year.


   The 8 frame mediums that I use are about the same size as a 5 frame deep Nuc. Should work fine. Keep an eye on it.. if it pulls in a BIG swarm dont let it set too long before rehiving in case they decide to move to a larger Condo. If the bees fit decently I let them be for a few days, let them get comb started in the frames and a few eggs to help hold them when I put them into a ten frame box.
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Offline robo

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Re: Show your swarm traps
« Reply #26 on: January 03, 2014, 08:39:01 am »
Has anyone ever used a nuc to trap bees?  I have 2 nucs that my hubby insist will do the job, rather than using a regular trap.  I'm not so sure that it's going to work though.  He wants to place them close to a tree that tends to attract a swarm every year.

It will work for smaller swarms but may be passed over by larger swarms.  A 5 frame deep nuc is ~20L  and the ideal size swarm trap is ~30-40L


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Offline LazyBkpr

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Re: Show your swarm traps
« Reply #27 on: January 03, 2014, 08:42:07 am »
 A 5 frame deep nuc is ~20L  and the ideal size swarm trap is ~30-40L


   never tried to figure out how many ~L's   ;D   thanks for the clarification!!
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Offline JanO

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Re: Show your swarm traps
« Reply #28 on: January 03, 2014, 02:44:14 pm »
OK, so I'm worried for nothing I guess.  I'll definitely keep an eye on 'em for crowding, and move them to a 10 frame sooner rather than later.

Offline robo

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Re: Show your swarm traps
« Reply #29 on: January 03, 2014, 02:54:49 pm »
OK, so I'm worried for nothing I guess.  I'll definitely keep an eye on 'em for crowding, and move them to a 10 frame sooner rather than later.

I wouldn't say your worried for nothing.   If there are more appealing sized nest location in your area, they will choose them over your nucs.   Not that it is scientific in any way, but my experience has convinced me that they will choose 30L over 20L when given the choice.

http://beevac.com/swarm-traps/

However, if they are used nucs they will have more appeal than unused. 

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Offline LazyBkpr

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Re: Show your swarm traps
« Reply #30 on: January 03, 2014, 03:47:25 pm »
I have no doubt that the larger size would be more beneficial for the bees, more enticing!!  But its not more enticing to this old guy!   Did you REALIZE that by the time I get a quarter mile from the truck my little swarm boxes weigh in at close to three hundred pounds???   Seriously!!!     I think they absorb moisture or something!

  To be honest, I have often wondered what I was missing by using this size box.. but at the same time, I have to think that if I were to catch MORE swarms I'd have difficulty hiving them.  Farmers like their beehives, they just dont have time to keep them from swarming! 
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Offline robo

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Re: Show your swarm traps
« Reply #31 on: January 03, 2014, 06:40:42 pm »
That is what beekeeping is all about, doing what works best for you.

"Opportunity is missed by most people because it comes dressed in overalls and looks like work." - Thomas Edison


Offline Yankee11

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Re: Show your swarm traps
« Reply #32 on: February 13, 2014, 11:28:29 am »
I'm gonna try these flower pot traps this year. Will probably put some Lemon Grass Oil in them. Mount them to a piece of plywood and hang them in a tree. We'll see how they work. Bought 11 of them.

I'll spray them with some water proof to keep them from degrading.





Offline Slowmodem

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Re: Show your swarm traps
« Reply #33 on: February 13, 2014, 01:38:52 pm »
I'm gonna try these flower pot traps this year. Will probably put some Lemon Grass Oil in them. Mount them to a piece of plywood and hang them in a tree. We'll see how they work. Bought 11 of them.

I'll spray them with some water proof to keep them from degrading.





I tried one of those last year:

http://gregsbees.blogspot.com/2013/05/swarm-trap-installed.html

It worked ok.    I used cotton from a medicine bottle with a couple of drops of lemon grass oil on it.  I couldn't get to it for a while after the bees had moved in.  If I had been able to, it might have worked out better.  The bees built a lot of comb in the trap, and I had a hard time cutting it out and didn't get it into frames right, and the SHB ended up taking over the hive.

This year I'll just put a box with frames out so they can build comb they way I want them to.
Greg Whitehead
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Beekeeping at 26.4 kbs

Offline LazyBkpr

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Re: Show your swarm traps
« Reply #34 on: February 13, 2014, 10:14:48 pm »

  The bees built a lot of comb in the trap, and I had a hard time cutting it out and didn't get it into frames right, and the SHB ended up taking over the hive.

This year I'll just put a box with frames out so they can build comb they way I want them to.

   Thats probably the only reason I dont use those. If you dont get to them quick you have to do a cut out to get them hived.  I also like to let them build in the empty frames. if they have even a little brood it seems to anchor them in the hive you put them in.  Adding a frame of brood from another hive seems to work well too.
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Offline Bakersdozen

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Re: Show your swarm traps
« Reply #35 on: February 16, 2014, 11:05:48 am »
Very nice, Thx for sharing Skeeter,Robo and Tbone.  The more people that share the better.
Hey jb63!  Forgive my ignorance, but I have to ask this.  Is the screw at the entrance to keep birds, etc from entering the bait hive?   :nice:

Offline minz

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Re: Show your swarm traps
« Reply #36 on: February 16, 2014, 06:36:58 pm »
I tried to go large last year with this design of a deep and a super:
http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n599/6minz/DSCF4435_zps4d5f9932.jpg
no luck.  One caught a D8 caterpillar but it was not strong enough to hold it.  (path was widened and paved, first box I lost)
here is one hanging:
http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n599/6minz/IMG-20120412-00116.jpg
for some reason I have better luck in evergreens.
Here are a couple of originals:
http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n599/6minz/nuc2.jpg
I did the light green for a moss colored tree. The dark ones work better. I have one spot that has produced well.  The second spot I always have massive activity and when I pull it down with the hot spot it is always empty.


Offline LazyBkpr

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Re: Show your swarm traps
« Reply #37 on: February 16, 2014, 06:50:32 pm »
To catch the D8's you need a bigger box,  If you can manage to KEEP one.. your IN the money!!!!

   Camouflaged... bees cant see the boxes!!    :laugh:

    A lot of it has to do with density of the feral population and availability of locations to hive.
   If they have lots of choices its harder to catch them. Do you know of any bee trees or old barns etc that have feral hives in them?
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Offline G3farms

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Re: Show your swarm traps
« Reply #38 on: February 16, 2014, 08:10:27 pm »
Just like fishing, got to go where the fish are.

I have a couple of hot spots picked out, seem to get a swarm call from the same areas every year.
Bees are bees and do as they please!

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Offline jb63

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Re: Show your swarm traps
« Reply #39 on: February 16, 2014, 08:44:12 pm »
Hey jb63!  Forgive my ignorance, but I have to ask this.  Is the screw at the entrance to keep birds, etc from entering the bait hive?   To answer your question Baker,the answer is yes.The screw keeps other things out, they also use it like a jungle gym when defending the entrance.It's kind of funny to watch.When I want to move the trap I just unscrew the screw and stick a paper towel in the hole.And I'm glad you r enjoying the thread.The more people that contribute the better.
I don't know.It was like that when I got here.