As far as bringing mites or other diseases home, I guess I?m not concerned. All of the bees here have mites. They can be managed by the method of your choice.
I haven?t had any issues with disease. None of my bees have pedigrees and all have open mated queens.
There are two feral hives in tree hollows within a mile of my house, they have been occupied for at least the last couple of years. One of my bait hive locations has a feral hive living in an old central heat furnace under a group of cedar trees. The home owner says it has been occupied for the three years he has owned the property. Healthy hives swarm.
You don?t have to know where a feral hive is to put up a bait hive. Not all of my locations were successful. I just put up a box and wait and see. One bait hive was put in an area with no hives known to me, but I caught three swarms from the same tree there. It?s like fishing.
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