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Author Topic: LEMON GRASS TO CATCH SWARMS?  (Read 43469 times)

Offline lisnnbeerawhoney

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LEMON GRASS TO CATCH SWARMS?
« on: March 23, 2012, 05:14:12 pm »
:bee: anybody had any luck with using lemon grass to catch bee swarms?  I tryied last year didnt have much luck.

Online Michael Bush

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Re: LEMON GRASS TO CATCH SWARMS?
« Reply #1 on: March 24, 2012, 01:22:47 am »
Move your bait hives.  It's just like fishing.  You have to find a good place...
My website:  bushfarms.com/bees.htm en espanol: bushfarms.com/es_bees.htm  auf deutsche: bushfarms.com/de_bees.htm  em portugues:  bushfarms.com/pt_bees.htm
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Offline SerenityApiaries

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Re: LEMON GRASS TO CATCH SWARMS?
« Reply #2 on: March 24, 2012, 03:35:43 am »
Where would one get lemon grass? I"m not sure if Oregon has lemon grass. I have a swarm attractant that I ordered but I have seen JP in his videos use lemon grass.

Khalen
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Online Michael Bush

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Re: LEMON GRASS TO CATCH SWARMS?
« Reply #3 on: March 24, 2012, 05:12:11 am »
Lemongrass Essential Oil is available from most places that sell essential oils.  That's what you want.  The lures you buy will do as well but cost a lot more.

My website:  bushfarms.com/bees.htm en espanol: bushfarms.com/es_bees.htm  auf deutsche: bushfarms.com/de_bees.htm  em portugues:  bushfarms.com/pt_bees.htm
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Offline SerenityApiaries

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Re: LEMON GRASS TO CATCH SWARMS?
« Reply #4 on: March 24, 2012, 05:19:49 am »
Lemon grass it is then.  :)
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Online Michael Bush

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Re: LEMON GRASS TO CATCH SWARMS?
« Reply #5 on: March 24, 2012, 07:27:22 am »
You can get it from a lot of the bee suppliers and even on Amazon...
My website:  bushfarms.com/bees.htm en espanol: bushfarms.com/es_bees.htm  auf deutsche: bushfarms.com/de_bees.htm  em portugues:  bushfarms.com/pt_bees.htm
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Offline Intheswamp

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Re: LEMON GRASS TO CATCH SWARMS?
« Reply #6 on: March 24, 2012, 09:24:15 am »
Whether it matters or not, there are two varieties of LGO commonly found, Cymbopogon citratus and Cymbopogon flexuosus.  Apparently both varieties work as swarm lures, but I get the impression that Cymbopogon citratus is the one you really want.  It is actually stated as coming from "lemon grass" whereas Cymbopogon flexuosus is stated as coming from the Cochin or Malabar grasses.

Ed
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Offline lisnnbeerawhoney

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Re: LEMON GRASS TO CATCH SWARMS?
« Reply #7 on: March 24, 2012, 11:05:39 pm »
my wife works at local heath foods store  thats where I bought mine at.

Offline Kathyp

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Re: LEMON GRASS TO CATCH SWARMS?
« Reply #8 on: March 24, 2012, 11:22:04 pm »
ebay stores. 
Someone really ought to tell them that the world of Ayn Rand?s novel was not meant to be aspirational.

Online Michael Bush

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Re: LEMON GRASS TO CATCH SWARMS?
« Reply #9 on: March 24, 2012, 11:38:53 pm »
Whichever has more citral would work better...
My website:  bushfarms.com/bees.htm en espanol: bushfarms.com/es_bees.htm  auf deutsche: bushfarms.com/de_bees.htm  em portugues:  bushfarms.com/pt_bees.htm
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Offline tedlemay

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Re: LEMON GRASS TO CATCH SWARMS?
« Reply #10 on: March 25, 2012, 03:11:11 pm »
Great info guys!!

Offline SerenityApiaries

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Re: LEMON GRASS TO CATCH SWARMS?
« Reply #11 on: March 26, 2012, 04:36:28 am »
Definitely good info to have.  Thanks.
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Offline bzzigi

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Re: LEMON GRASS TO CATCH SWARMS?
« Reply #12 on: March 29, 2012, 09:46:35 am »
Hi all,
had anybody any success using lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) instead of lemon grass?


Online Michael Bush

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Re: LEMON GRASS TO CATCH SWARMS?
« Reply #13 on: March 31, 2012, 11:58:26 pm »
>had anybody any success using lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) instead of lemon grass?

I have heard it works, I have not tried it.  It contains some citral.  Lemongrass oil sems to be the more proven method.
My website:  bushfarms.com/bees.htm en espanol: bushfarms.com/es_bees.htm  auf deutsche: bushfarms.com/de_bees.htm  em portugues:  bushfarms.com/pt_bees.htm
My book:  ThePracticalBeekeeper.com
-------------------
"Everything works if you let it."--James "Big Boy" Medlin

Offline Jonat

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Re: LEMON GRASS TO CATCH SWARMS?
« Reply #14 on: April 08, 2012, 07:44:53 pm »
The nasonov pheromone contains a variety of scents, including citral compounds (lemony scent) and geraniols (rose scent). The standard synthetic pheromone is 2 parts citral to 1 part geraniol. Not sure if a rose geranium oil works, it is loaded with geraniols, but my nose is not as discriminating as that of a bee's.

Offline saperica

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Re: LEMON GRASS TO CATCH SWARMS?
« Reply #15 on: April 28, 2012, 12:00:22 pm »
i use a melisa officinalis branches and leaves to atract swarm, my college have some esential oil that he produce.
this year i got some swarm atractant wipes from vita europe so i will try..

Offline Lavy Garcia

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Re: LEMON GRASS TO CATCH SWARMS?
« Reply #16 on: January 18, 2013, 02:56:19 am »
I had no experience of it.Let me know that what was your experience of it,,,,,,,

Offline saperica

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Re: LEMON GRASS TO CATCH SWARMS?
« Reply #17 on: January 18, 2013, 04:35:40 am »
this is my expirience, i am a voulonter for "beekeeping watch of city zagreb", allways is Mellisa branches and Vita Swarm wipw whit me.

Offline pr1zZ

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Re: LEMON GRASS TO CATCH SWARMS?
« Reply #18 on: February 07, 2013, 09:14:35 am »
best for swarms old frame with honeycombs, black WHISOUT HONEY! If will be honey it is will be very bad!

Offline Sundog

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Re: Regarding location?
« Reply #19 on: February 07, 2013, 11:29:41 am »
How far off the ground is my question. 

I have one trap about a foot off the ground (on a friends patio), and another in a tree 15 feet up in my backyard.

My friend lives in an area where I once worked and witnessed several feral hives over the years, so I thought it to be a good location.

Before I kept bees, I had a homemade cedar birdhouse in the tree where I now have the trap in my backyard.  The birdhouse eventually fell to the ground and then bees moved into it.

So is one location better than another, or is it just a crapshoot?

Having fun!

 

anything