Worldwide Beekeeping

Beekeeping => Swarms, Cut Outs, Trap Outs and Bee Trees => Topic started by: rober on April 18, 2018, 08:25:59 am

Title: swarm lure
Post by: rober on April 18, 2018, 08:25:59 am

 a friend of mine in Columbia Mo sent me this photo. he drilled holes in a prescription bottle, put in a cotton ball with lemon grass oil, & hung it in a tree. he's caught 4 swarms on it. look at th bottom of the swarm.

(https://thumb.ibb.co/bFPL2S/lemon_swarm.png) (https://ibb.co/bFPL2S)

Title: Re: swarm lure
Post by: Wandering Man on April 18, 2018, 09:48:25 am

That’s huge!

Title: Re: swarm lure
Post by: LazyBkpr on April 18, 2018, 11:05:55 am

wow, were those HIS swarms or were they from elsewhere?

Title: Re: swarm lure
Post by: tedh on April 18, 2018, 11:08:20 am

Hmmmm.  I'm a bit confused by this.  When bees swarm into a cluster waiting to head to the new home,  do the bees cluster on /with the queen or does the queen join the cluster?  Will the queen be in the swarm with the lure?  Thanks, ted

Title: Re: swarm lure
Post by: LazyBkpr on April 18, 2018, 11:22:25 am

I understood that the bees follow the queen and gather on her because of her pheromone...   Not entirely sure what happens when bees gather like that. Did they gather on the bottle thinking it was a queen, or did the swarming queen go to the bottle?

Title: Re: swarm lure
Post by: tedh on April 18, 2018, 12:00:19 pm

Exactly!  It sounds easy enough that even I could do it.   8)

Title: Re: swarm lure
Post by: rober on April 18, 2018, 12:59:39 pm

ted-that sounds like the chicken or the egg question..........i'm pretty sure that the queen leads the way. & that was in his own bee yard so probably his.

Title: Re: swarm lure
Post by: tedh on April 18, 2018, 01:55:56 pm

So, the queen was drawn to the lure and the bees followed her? 

Having never seen, or read anything pertaining to a swarm issuing from a hive, I'd be curious about the chain of events.  For instance, the queen leaves, finds a place to hang out, the bees join her.  Or perhaps, the bees leave, finds a place to hang out and the queen joins them.  I wonder if there's a documented strict chain of events or if it's more of a free for all and different depending on the colony.  Huh.  Women!  (No offense)

Rober:  10-4 on the chicken/egg question!  ;D

Title: Re: swarm lure
Post by: tedh on April 18, 2018, 01:57:56 pm

I think I'm going to try it.  Hang one in each yard.  Anyone see a problem with doing that?  Ted

Title: Re: swarm lure
Post by: Bakersdozen on April 18, 2018, 08:08:31 pm

Quote from: tedh on April 18, 2018, 01:57:56 pm

I think I'm going to try it.  Hang one in each yard.  Anyone see a problem with doing that?  Ted

This lure may only be a bivouac location.  Perhaps the swarms were waiting for the scout bees to return so that they decide on a permanent location. 

Title: Re: swarm lure
Post by: rober on April 18, 2018, 08:16:46 pm

i'd think it would make more sense to put the lure in nuc box.

Title: Re: swarm lure
Post by: LazyBkpr on April 18, 2018, 08:52:52 pm

Dr Seely (SP) did some research on swarming.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1x8T_CHZemE

A longer speech;

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tImAmzIg-Fc

   I can also attest that if you email him with questions he will reply.

Title: Re: swarm lure
Post by: apisbees on April 19, 2018, 03:33:53 am

Thanks Lazy I was thinking about that video It explains a lot.