Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => THE TRADING POST => Topic started by: crmauch on April 28, 2017, 06:18:42 pm

Title: Looking for Brood Comb
Post by: crmauch on April 28, 2017, 06:18:42 pm
I am attempting to swarm trap, and in my research I have discovered that old brood comb increases your chance of success. I wish to purchase decent* brood comb from a cutout or removed from a frame (my plan is to cut the brood comb into approximate 2?X 2? pieces so I do not need the frame).

 I look forward to your responses, please contact me via PM and thank you.

 *Decent ? I?m not an expert here, but I plan to first freeze any comb I would get, which I believe would take care of any wax moths (as long as the comb isn?t completely webbed). But if the hive died because of disease (particularly AFB) or is slimed by small hive beetle, I would not consider that ?decent?.
Title: Re: Looking for Brood Comb
Post by: KeyLargoBees on May 25, 2017, 09:50:51 am
swarm commander > brood comb

And no worry of wax moths chewing it up if the trap is up for awhile.
Title: Re: Looking for Brood Comb
Post by: tycrnp on May 25, 2017, 10:40:50 am
I am new to this, but have been successful at catching 2 swarms this year. I just put a few drops of lemongrass oil on the inner wall an a couple of small (2" x 2") pieces  of old comb between a couple of frames.  Good luck!
Title: Re: Looking for Brood Comb
Post by: crmauch on May 30, 2017, 06:11:05 pm
Thanks for the advice.

I may try Swarm Commander next year.

Did not put as much effort in trapping this year as last year, but I have not even seen any activity around any of my traps (LGO) with beeswax on inside of trap.

But I've rarely seen any honeybees in my area, particularly this year.

If next year is a bust, I'll be giving up on getting bees as buying packages is not an option.
Title: Re: Looking for Brood Comb
Post by: scottie52 on June 01, 2017, 11:25:37 pm
I used both Lemongrass oil and Swarm Commander. Have caught three swarms this year. I set five traps. Two of the swarm were only about 30 yards apart from each other. Oh and I used frames with no comb on them.
Title: Re: Looking for Brood Comb
Post by: crmauch on June 02, 2017, 11:32:51 am
I used both Lemongrass oil and Swarm Commander. Have caught three swarms this year. I set five traps. Two of the swarm were only about 30 yards apart from each other. Oh and I used frames with no comb on them.

Are you using both in the same trap or different lure scents in different traps?  And where are you located?  It seems from what I've seen on forums that swarm trapping isn't very successful in eastern Pennsylvania.

Need to find other locations, but the ones I've chosen 'seem' to follow the 'rules'  (along a forest boundary (the open land is a pipeline cut through); a lone tree; at the end of a small tree line)

I'm disturbed in that I rarely see honeybees anymore.
Title: Re: Looking for Brood Comb
Post by: scottie52 on July 02, 2017, 06:44:54 pm
Im using both in each trap. 6 swarms so far. You don't need brood comb I just use the plastic foundation.
Title: Re: Looking for Brood Comb
Post by: little john on August 08, 2017, 09:20:57 am
Coming in very late on this one ...

Old brood comb is attractive to bees, not because it's brood comb per se, but  rather because it's old, well-used beeswax - i.e. it stinks of propolis and 'bee' in general.  So - slumgum will work just as well as an old brood comb, and most people will give you a bucketful gratis - so no need to buy it.

Wax moth will still lay on this stuff, but it's a lot more difficult for their larvae to live in it, not having the same 'passageways' that comb has.  But anyway - slumgum is at best considered 100% disposable.  Makes for good chicken feed.
LJ