Author Topic: Swarm trap ? (Read 24883 times)

Perry · « **Reply #20 on:** February 01, 2017, 01:32:42 pm »

Just downloaded the plans for the 30L, thanks.

Green bee · « **Reply #21 on:** February 01, 2017, 08:36:03 pm »

Thanks for sharing robo I downloaded the 30 L plans also,
And thanks for the advise Perry, Your ok in my book

Barbarian · « **Reply #22 on:** February 02, 2017, 04:28:51 am »

A couple of comments on the Wandering Man swarm trap.

I would go for larger box than a six frame. A prime swarm may judge it too small. A prime swarm could move in then abscond to a larger space.
If the small black circle is the entrance then it could be too small for a swarm's needs. Tom Seeley's research indicated a preference for a small entrance but I think it was larger than the one shown.

When setting up my swarm traps, I have a piece of perforated metal held by a push pin to one side of the entrance. When moving the filled trap it is easy to swing the metal to cover the entrance and secure with another push pin.

Wandering Man · « **Reply #23 on:** February 02, 2017, 08:39:54 am »

Quote from: Barbarian on February 02, 2017, 04:28:51 am

A couple of comments on the Wandering Man swarm trap.

I would go for larger box than a six frame. A prime swarm may judge it too small. A prime swarm could move in then abscond to a larger space.
If the small black circle is the entrance then it could be too small for a swarm's needs. Tom Seeley's research indicated a preference for a small entrance but I think it was larger than the one shown.

When setting up my swarm traps, I have a piece of perforated metal held by a push pin to one side of the entrance. When moving the filled trap it is easy to swing the metal to cover the entrance and secure with another push pin.

Thanks for those comments.

The guy with these plans uses really long (deep?) frames. So, the volume is larger than would appear in the photos. There is a lot of empty space below those frames.

I've been wondering about the size of the hole. That hole was already in the scrap plywood. But as I look at it, I'm thinking it might need to be expanded. The plywood was initially intended as window coverings for a hurricane. the hole was there to allow for pressure equalization.

I like your idea of a trap door for the entrance.

robo · « **Reply #24 on:** February 02, 2017, 08:46:47 am »

Quote from: Wandering Man link=topic=6498.msg83374#msg83374 date=1486042794

I like your idea of a trap door for the entrance.
[/quote

Just be careful blocking of the entrance on a hot day. Bees need to get on the outside of the entrance to fan and circulate air through the nest. A lot of of folks believe screening of the entrance is fine and still lets air through, which is a false believe. I use a 2" deep 6"x12" shim that has screen on it. This allows the bees to exit but still remain contained.

Wandering Man · « **Reply #25 on:** February 02, 2017, 09:10:08 am »

Quote from: Robo on February 02, 2017, 08:46:47 am

Quote from: Wandering Man link=topic=6498.msg83374#msg83374 date=1486042794

I like your idea of a trap door for the entrance.
[/quote

Just be careful blocking of the entrance on a hot day. Bees need to get on the outside of the entrance to fan and circulate air through the nest. A lot of of folks believe screening of the entrance is fine and still lets air through, which is a false believe. I use a 2" deep 6"x12" shim that has screen on it. This allows the bees to exit but still remain contained.

That's my main concern with the little hole, that the bees would not be able to adequately ventilate the hive. Here is a gap at the top, underneath the lid, but I'm not sure the bees could take advantage of that.

CBT · « **Reply #26 on:** February 02, 2017, 09:52:23 pm »

I thought most of the world wide hives only have 2 cork sized holes. Am I misinformed?

Jacobs · « **Reply #27 on:** February 21, 2017, 08:06:45 am »

Green bee--if you haven't put up your swarm trap, now would be a good time. Nancy Ruppert, the NC bee inspector for your area, gave a spring prep presentation at the Guilford County Beekeepers last week. She is seeing bees about 2 weeks ahead of spring prep/swarm schedules for our area and said she was putting up her personal swarm traps now.

I'm posting a link to Guilford so you can see what I have up. I use an old ratty deep with medium frames and an entrance reducer. The trap is about 7 feet up in my neighbor's dying dogwood, and faces southeast. If you click on the link to the video, you will see the arrival of a swarm last March (2016).

http://www.guilfordbeekeepers.org/community/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=1970

Perry · « **Reply #28 on:** February 21, 2017, 09:56:36 am »

Jacobs, you and I obviously have a very different opinion on what a "ratty deep" is!

That one of your looks pretty good to me!

Green bee · « **Reply #29 on:** February 23, 2017, 10:37:13 pm »

Quote from: Jacobs on February 21, 2017, 08:06:45 am

Green bee--if you haven't put up your swarm trap, now would be a good time. Nancy Ruppert, the NC bee inspector for your area, gave a spring prep presentation at the Guilford County Beekeepers last week. She is seeing bees about 2 weeks ahead of spring prep/swarm schedules for our area and said she was putting up her personal swarm traps now.

I'm posting a link to Guilford so you can see what I have up. I use an old ratty deep with medium frames and an entrance reducer. The trap is about 7 feet up in my neighbor's dying dogwood, and faces southeast. If you click on the link to the video, you will see the arrival of a swarm last March (2016).

http://www.guilfordbeekeepers.org/community/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=1970

Dang I missed that meeting .. I was going to attend (would have been my first) but didn't make it. Thanks for the link.

LazyBkpr · « **Reply #30 on:** February 25, 2017, 03:16:00 pm »

I was going to say that Robo had a great and informative site about swarm traps, but I see he has been here already.

My own experiences tell me that availability has a lot to do with what home a swarm chooses. Dr. Seely said that they will choose the best location they can find.
I have had swarm boxes out about 1/4, 1/2 and 1 mile form my house that are the size of a deep, with old comb in it and lemongrass oil or commercial lures, and still had swarms move into used 5 frame nucs I had stacked in my bee shed. So to say the least bees confuse me about how they make decisions...
Having said that... going with the size you have is better than not putting out any swarm boxes at all!

Green bee · « **Reply #31 on:** March 02, 2017, 10:37:52 pm »

Set my first swarm trap today. Should get good morning sun. Took this picture just before sunset. I put it about 8' up and facing south. Been see a lot of activity with the honey bees in the area. Wish me luck!

Wandering Man · « **Reply #32 on:** March 02, 2017, 10:40:02 pm »

good luck!

Green bee · « **Reply #33 on:** March 02, 2017, 10:41:31 pm »

I guess it's worth mentioning, it's baited with Lemmon grass oil and has a frame of brood comb in it. I only put enough Lemmon grass oil in it to cover the end of a cotton swab.

Zweefer · « **Reply #34 on:** March 03, 2017, 09:20:02 pm »

Good luck Green bee!

Green bee · « **Reply #35 on:** March 04, 2017, 10:03:50 pm »

So I set a new trap today. This one I used swarm commander in and it's in a good location. I want to do some comparisons between swarm commander and Lemmon grass oil. I was thinking about setting two traps out close together with a different lure in each box just to see if it's as good as people claim it is. If anyone has tried this I would be interested in hearing your results.

Perry · « **Reply #36 on:** March 05, 2017, 07:43:35 am »

Hard to imagine catching swarms already when we still have snow on the ground and temps below freezing. Love the pics!

Green bee · « **Reply #37 on:** March 05, 2017, 12:33:18 pm »

It's been warm here and other beeks in the area have already caught some. We have had a very mild winter even for us here in the south.

CBT · « **Reply #38 on:** March 05, 2017, 09:49:07 pm »

Green Bee, I wanted to test different lures also.

Green bee · « **Reply #39 on:** March 05, 2017, 10:19:55 pm »

That would be awsome if you did CBT , we could compare notes. I wish I could find a colony in I tree somewhere to hang two identical traps side by side with different lures just to see which would be chosen.