My First Swarm Trap

[Jen]

 There she sits folks! This is the cedar tree on my back bank where the swarms land about 80% of the time. So I built it up to about the height of where they usually land half way up the tree. I only have the two frames to put in there as bait, and also a qtip's worth of lemongrass oil wiped around the inside of the box. Crossing fingers 
 

[iddee]

I hope you are ready to do a cutout. The two frames will be the last place they use when they move in. They will fill the rest of the boxes with wild comb first, then use the frames only when they have no other place left.

[CBT]

We use a single deep or a nuke box enclosed with a screen stapled where it's easy to push down and close them up for moving.

[Jen]

Iddee "I hope you are ready to do a cutout. The two frames will be the last place they use when they move in. They will fill the rest of the boxes with wild comb first, then use the frames only when they have no other place left.

Mkay, learning... I think I got this one Iddee, just need more expaination for you.

1. The bottom box has netting stapled to the bottom so bees can't enter the two bottom boxes. They are for height only.

2. Then the top trap box has a bottom board which locks the bees out of getting into the two bottom empties from the top. The only box the bees can get into is the top trap box thru the bottom board entrance.

3. Oops! I failed to mention this part. I have no other frames with foundation inserted yet (because of Rat). So my plan is to make up frames each day and insert them into trap as I get them made. So in 2-3 days this trap will be filled with ready frames.

This trap is within my vision from my living room window, so I will know when a swarm gets in there within a day or two. there won't be any time for them to make wild comb.

Hope this made sense 

[iddee]

I would still fill it with foundationless frames and exchange them as I got them made up.

[apisbees]

The bees will still swarm into the tree. Swarming is a 2 step process (Actually more when you count them deciding to raise queen cells) but for our discussion the 2 are: Swarming out leaving the hive and congregating in a ball of bees generally close to the hive they came from. : From here the bees send out scouts to find a suitable place to set up a new colony. If it is to close bees do not communicate close distances very well, but rely on fanning the pheromone of their Nasonov gland to attract bees that are in the area.

[Jen]

Hmmm    I like that idea Iddee

Apis.. so then I should move the swarm trap a few yards, or hundred yards away from the tree? That may be difficult in my tight neighborhood...

Apis.. "but rely on fanning the pheromone of their Nasonov gland to attract bees that are in the area.

   Need a little more detail here.. I'm reading that as the scout bee will land on the trap, then if they find it suitable, will fan their pheromone to get the swarm to come to where she is fanning?

[iddee]

They may just think the lemongrass oil is where the scouts left the nasanov. I would leave it where it is. If they land in the tree, just shake them in.

[apisbees]

With a swarm nothing is guaranteed. What I see happening is the hive will swarm. The bees tend to light where swarms have gathered previously so in the tree. from there the bees will send out scouts to find a permanent home. the scouts will come back to the swarm to tell of there found location. other scouts will go out to confirm the location and the bees will come to a conciseness on where the new home will be. Bees are not good at conveying short distances with the waggle dance. So will the bees fly off for another home or will a few bee enter the swarm box and lure the rest of the swarm in by fanning their Nasonov pheromone? I don't know the answer to this. or whether the bees will choose the swarm trap over some hole in a tree or in a wall.

[Jen]

Apis "The bees tend to light where swarms have gathered previously so in the tree. from there the bees will send out scouts to find a permanent home. the scouts will come back to the swarm to tell of there found location. other scouts will go out to confirm the location and the bees will come to a conciseness on where the new home will be.

   This is how I remember it. And I do know my set up is not a guarantee.

[apisbees]

   This is how I remember it. And I do know my set up is not a guarantee.

The only guarantee when it comes to beekeeping is that your bees have mites! Even if you can't find them...

[iddee]

""With a swarm nothing is guaranteed.""

Agreed. I have placed a hive where scouts were in a structure, with a few drops of lemongrass oil. When the main swarm arrived, they went directly into the hive. This has happened on more than one occasion. I think the lemongrass overpowers the nasonov that the scouts leave, and the swarm goes to the stronger odor.

[kebee]

 You did good Jen, now just wait and see, but I would put more frames in there even if  just open frames.

Ken

[Jen]

And, I remember a vid from Scott where the swarm went right in, and other vids as well. It's worth a shot. I like the idea of Iddee's that the lemongrass may be more potent than the nasonov, makes sense anyway.

Now I'm thinking of putting a trap down the alleyway. Can't remember the amount of yards or feet was suggested on how far away it should be?

[Les]

Jen, thought you might like to see this.  This is Robo's video of him collecting his swarm trap.  Not trying to promote anything, just thought you might like to watch it.

[Barbarian]

The swarm trap on the bank may serve another purpose.

In the days before a swarm leaves a colony, the scout bees will be checking out possible new homes. If scouts are seen around the swarm trap then it could mean that a colony is planning to swarm.

[Wandering Man]

The swarm trap on the bank may serve another purpose.

In the days before a swarm leaves a colony, the scout bees will be checking out possible new homes. If scouts are seen around the swarm trap then it could mean that a colony is planning to swarm.

Thanks for the video.

Why did he put the swarm in a nuc, rather than a full hive?

[Jen]

Hi Wandering Man, just my guess, but maybe he wanted a nuc to sell and not another full hive. That is my plan, I don't want more than three hives, so if my three swarm, I'm going to sell them as nucs 

[apisbees]

Time of year if he put it in a single 10 frame the honey stores for winter would be split 1/2 on each side of the cluster. By going to 10 frames 5 over 5 the honey is above the cluster. I can't speak for him but he probably felt that the did not have the time to build up to fill 2 deeps.