Attracting Swarms

[Beeboy01]

I'm trying something new this year for swarm attracting. Over the last few years most of the swarms around my yard seem to pick one spot each year to land on in a tree or out on a limb where they stay for three or so days till the scouts find them a new home. The first swarm builds a little bit of comb and it acts as an attractant for the other swarms for the duration of the year.  Working on the theory that the comb is the attractant I have tied a few wonky old used frames in the trees at about eye level around my yard. It's not a swam trap but a swarm resting point from where I can box them if I can get to them in time.  Think it will work?

[BeeMaster2]

I'm trying something new this year for swarm attracting. Over the last few years most of the swarms around my yard seem to pick one spot each year to land on in a tree or out on a limb where they stay for three or so days till the scouts find them a new home. The first swarm builds a little bit of comb and it acts as an attractant for the other swarms for the duration of the year.  Working on the theory that the comb is the attractant I have tied a few wonky old used frames in the trees at about eye level around my yard. It's not a swam trap but a swarm resting point from where I can box them if I can get to them in time.  Think it will work?

Yes if it is below one of the locations the bees have been using.
Jim

[Acebird]

Won't the unprotected comb get trashed by critters and birds?

[BeeMaster2]

I only give them one frame and the bees will just clean up any damage.
Jim

[tycrnp]

We have been putting our swarm traps in the same locations for 2 years.  We have gotten 2 swarms in one of the traps already this year. We got one swarm in the other trap and have been told that there are more bees in it now.  We will be checking on it this weekend.  So if something works, I say stick with it.

[Acebird]

How do you explain so many swarms in the same location.  Is there a commercial operator near by?

[tycrnp]

How do you explain so many swarms in the same location.  Is there a commercial operator near by?

I can't explain, but we got another HUGE swarm today.  No commercial bees here.  We are surrounded by water, have lots of stuff in bloom.  We actually put a trap in a friend's yard last year, she is ~ 1/2 - 1 mile from an apiary...didn't catch a single swarm in that trap.