Swarm Trap Study Results

[max2]

I put out 12 swarm traps this year. Some with lures, some with Lemon Grass Oil. Large ones, smaller ones. Some high, some low. Result - nil!

Last year I had the same result but the year before I had a better response.

My observations: I did pick-up about 20 swarms and about 60% stayed. Lemon Grass in the box definitely helps. It is possible that by collecting the swarms after they settled they never had a chance to make a trap their home.
I will keep trying again next swarm season BUT will also do my splits earlier to reduce the number of swarms.

[jpmeir]

Do you place swarm traps near your hives, 100 ft, as a preventive measure?  Is this an a best pratice for bee geeks? I'm new and in my second year. This year I"m going to try to catch swarms by placing them in areas where GF and I have seen bees on our land, but JP recomended way back in 07 to leave a trap about 100ft from hives. 

[Moots]

Do you place swarm traps near your hives, 100 ft, as a preventive measure?  Is this an a best pratice for bee geeks? I'm new and in my second year. This year I"m going to try to catch swarms by placing them in areas where GF and I have seen bees on our land, but JP recomended way back in 07 to leave a trap about 100ft from hives. 

I think the thought process is that bee yards tend to attract bees, therefore, it's a good location.  You also have a chance of catching one of your own hives swarming...Sort of a win/win situation.  Since a swarm trap does't encourage swarming, yet merely offers a home to an existing swarm, there's no real downside.

That's my understanding at least.

[jpmeir]

That makes sense, thanks for the input

[hummelkurt]

JP JP JP JP, I WAS YOU TUBING THIS MORNING....TYPED IN HIVING A SWARM, I THINK.......THERE WAS JP....JP.....OMG,,,,JP......BUSY MAN. LOOKED AT A BUNCH OF EM....COULDN'T HARDLY STOP...KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!!!!!!!!

[Moots]

JP JP JP JP, I WAS YOU TUBING THIS MORNING....TYPED IN HIVING A SWARM, I THINK.......THERE WAS JP....JP.....OMG,,,,JP......BUSY MAN. LOOKED AT A BUNCH OF EM....COULDN'T HARDLY STOP...KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!!!!!!!!

They don't call him "the bee man" for nothing... :-D

I've watched quite a few myself, I need to find more time to watch more of them...Always well done and entertaining.