Swarms, Bait Hives & Swarm Traps Presented to the Wasatch Beekeepers Association by George Denton March 17, 2016

How I got the bug to do Swarm Trapping… odfrank on www.beesource.com

What’s the difference between a Bait Hive and a Swarm Trap?

What’s the difference between a Bait Hive and a Swarm Trap? Nothing at all…the names are used interchangeably to indicate a man-made vessel (with or without a swarm lure in it) that is used to entice a swarm to occupy it.

Why do we catch bees in Bait Hives and Swarm Traps? FREE BEES! Less work…The bees find the traps and install themselves. An inexpensive way to increase your hive count. To add new genetics to your apiary. Able to sell excess bee inventory (nucs, etc.) BECAUSE IT’S FUN!

Do you really “Trap” the bees?

Do you really “Trap” the bees? Nope – The bees are free to come and go as they please…until you seal up the trap and take them home to install them in your own apiary.

If you set a Bait Hive or Swarm Trap near my apiary, will it “lure” my bees away?

If you set a Bait Hive or Swarm Trap near my apiary, will it “lure” my bees away? Bait Hives and Swarm traps do not cause managed colonies to swarm.

If you set a Bait Hive or Swarm Trap near my apiary, will it “lure” my bees away? Bait Hives and Swarm traps do not cause managed colonies to swarm. Bait Hives and Swarm traps do not encourage managed colonies to swarm.

If you set a Bait Hive or Swarm Trap near my apiary, will it “lure” my bees away? Bait Hives and Swarm traps do not cause managed colonies to swarm. Bait Hives and Swarm traps do not encourage managed colonies to swarm. Setting a Bait Hive or Swarm Trap near a colony that has already decided to swarm may, or may not, capture that swarm.

Two main reasons why hives swarm

Two main reasons why hives swarm Overcrowding – Too many bees due to new brood hatching in the spring, leaving them too congested to function, so they swarm.

Two main reasons why hives swarm Overcrowding – Too many bees due to new brood hatching in the spring, leaving them too congested to function, so they swarm. Reproductive Instinct – The hive (not the queen) decides there are enough resources for the main hive to survive with a decrease of bees, as well as enough time and resources for the new colony to establish itself to survive the upcoming winter.

First out of the box - The Prime Swarm Picture by James A. Lofthouse

First out of the box - The Prime Swarm The Prime Swarm leaves as soon as the first queen cell is capped (about 8 days after starting the queen cells). They had already stopped feeding the Queen so she’s slim enough to fly with the swarm. They will temporarily land on a “staging area.” Scouts will leave the staging area, searching for an acceptable new home.

What are the Scouts looking for? Per the “Nest-site selection in honey bees” study by Seeley and Buhrman… Dark cavity (almost no light) About 40 Liters in size or 10 US Gallons. Will accept volumes as small as 15 liters, but prefer the larger size by far. An entrance about 15 sq cm, or 2.3 sq in (about the size of a half-dollar).

The 5-Frame Deep Nuc Box A large Prime Swarm may not fit into this small of a box. This swarm left within 24 hours. Just 22.5 liters (6 gal) in size. Very inexpensive to build from plywood. Easy to place just about anywhere.

Randy Bunker (Left) and Michael Parker (Right) Bait Hives Randy’s box is 32 liters (8.5 gal) with a lower entrance. Michael’s box is 40 liters (10 gal) with an upper entrance. Narrow style hangs well in trees.

UGLY BOX! Recycled boxes that held large magnets and were getting thrown away at my work. Fits 7 frames Measures 36 liters (9.5 gal) in volume. Bulky and too heavy to hang safely in a tree…but it’s free and it did catch a swarm!

Using Swarm Lures to attract Bees “The latest revolution in swarm trap technology occurred 20 years ago with the analysis of bee pheromones. They discovered the different pheromones that bees communicate with and were able to synthetically duplicate them.” - McCartney Taylor, “Swarm Traps and Bait Hives.” Available through Amazon.com.

A slow-release blend of pheremones by Mann Lake Types of Swarm Lures A slow-release blend of pheremones by Mann Lake Swarm Commander Lemongrass Oil (LGO)

Common Application Methods for LGO 6-8 drops of LGO on corner of a paper towel and stored inside a baggie with holes poked in it, or the corner barely left open. One, or both ends of a Q-tip dipped in LGO and put in a baggie, similar to above. A few drops placed inside of trap on frames, and a few drops outside near the entrance.

Other Application Methods for LGO Odfrank Method – Heats burr comb with a torch above the entrance inside the trap right on the wood. When boiling, adds a couple drops of LGO. He does not ‘freshen up’ the trap later that season. Michael Bush Method – Dip one end of a Q-tip in LGO and the other in “Queen Juice” and drop it in the trap. He does not ‘freshen up’ the trap later that season.

Other Application Methods for LGO 3.1 Michael Parker Method – Uses a piece of sponge in a baggie, wetted, and adds vegetable oil and 8-10 drops of LGO, pokes holes in the baggie and staples it to the tree- hanger arm to allow the sun to heat it up to send out the smell.

Other Application Methods for LGO 3.2 The Michael Parker method also includes the “tagging” of the tree where he locates his bait hive. He uses a spray bottle filled with 1 part water, 1 part vegetable oil and around 30 drops LGO. In the ‘stream’ mode, he sprays (or ‘tags’) the tree from top to bottom as well as ‘tags’ the box to turn the area into a beacon, of sorts, attempting to attract any bee in the area.

So what’s the best bait hive setup to attract bees? Lemongrass Oil (LGO). One frame of empty black comb, which adds bee smell and encourages the queen to lay eggs immediately. A veteran swarm trap (adds bee smell). If you don’t have any comb, use what you have. If you don’t have a veteran swarm trap, use what you have. If you don’t have LGO, you better go get some! 

How many frames should I use in my Bait Hive? This is a personal preference. Some use just one (makes their comb, or frames, go further; makes it look like there is plenty of room to grow to the bees). Some use three, and only check every couple of weeks, or longer. Having frames in the box keeps them from building comb on the roof. Others fill up the whole box with frames.

Where to place your Bait Hive SAFETY FIRST! Whenever you go up a ladder with an awkward, heavy box, or down a ladder with a bunch of bees and an even heavier box, you risk hurting yourself. Suit up in full gear so any surprise attacks by the bees won’t cause you to flinch and fall. Better yet…consider putting the hive no higher than what you can reach with a step stool.

Where to place your Bait Hive In the shade, not in full sun. Just inside of tree lines. Along fence lines, in the shade of a tree or building. In a lone tree in the middle of a field. In older, more mature, urban housing areas. The East bench areas seem to do very well between Draper and Bountiful.

Where to place your Bait Hive In your yard (bees attract other bees). On your roof or the roof of a shed (shaded). On back yard decks or balconies. In the yards of family and friends. In, or near, old brush piles. Luring bees is like finding a good fishing hole. If you are not catching bees in one location, adapt and try another.

I caught a Swarm…Now What?? Confirm the swarm’s moved in by watching to see if they are bringing pollen into the hive. If possible, give the bees up to a week to build new comb and begin raising brood. They will not usually abscond with brood in the box. Early morning, or late evening, seal up box and move colony to your apiary.

Bait Hive Challenge Utah A friendly challenge to see who can catch the most swarms using a Bait Hive or Swarm Trap this season in Utah The bees have to install themselves into the traps; we do not count swarms that we shake into the box Michael Parker won in 2013, 2014 and 2015 with 100+ swarm lures out (17 was the most, I believe) 198 Members Find us on Facebook under ‘Bait Hive Challenge Utah’

Catching Swarms Manually A quick video to watch a swarm capture in a tree How to get notified about a swarm What to bring on a swarm call On 5/22/15 Utah Bee Ranch posted on FB that they got a swarm call in Holladay. This one weighed in at just over 12 lbs.

The Swarm Pole Advantage Any Questions??