Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: filmmlif on May 27, 2006, 01:49:05 am

Title: swarm capturing
Post by: filmmlif on May 27, 2006, 01:49:05 am

there is a shop near my home that has an observation hive and they seem eager to swarm; it's over populated and there are 1000's of bees bearding at the entrence to the pvc pipe that leads inside to the hive. plus the 2 frames in the hive are full of capped brood and crowded.
my question; is there something i can set up near the opening so when they swarm i have a chance to woo them into that something and thus capture them?
it will be the second time this year the colony has swarmed.
thnx.

Title: swarm capturing
Post by: Michael Bush on May 27, 2006, 11:26:46 am

They are looking for a home about 1/4 mile or more away.  Putting something there may not help much. Putting a bait hive 1/4 mile away might work well.  Bait it with some lemongrass oil.  Put it up in t tree.

http://www.bushfarms.com/beesferal.htm

Title: swarm capturing
Post by: Brian D. Bray on May 27, 2006, 03:57:12 pm

I've had some swarms settle into an empty hive set up in the bee yard, I've had even more move some distance before settling.  Follow Michael's advice, it works the most consistantly.

Title: swarm capturing
Post by: Michael Bush on May 27, 2006, 04:30:57 pm

I'm not saying they won't move next door.  Once in a while a swarm moves into my empty equipment (one did in the last few days).