Hi Everyone!
 
I am interested in building some good bait boxes to attract swarms.  My church
has bees living inside the bell tower.  This colony has been there for about 20
years and appears to be quite vigorous even though no one cares for it.  We
have both varroa and tracheal mites here.
 
Every April and May these bees swarm repeatedly.  I would like to catch one or
more of the swarms to see if perhaps they could be mite resistant.
 
After looking in several of my books, a plywood bait box about the size of a
deep super, with a sealed top and bottom, and a 1 inch hole in one end would
seem good.
 
I have never used bait hives and would like very much to hear your experiences
with them!
 
Kris Bruland
Member of Mt. Baker Beekepers Association
Bellingham, WA  U.S.A.