Hi All
 
A member of the list requested information on the above sent directly to his
e mail address.
 
Since it may be of interest to others, I show it below. Please let me have
comments on whether it is worth trying.
 
I have copied the following details on a bee bob from 'A Manual of
Beekeeping' by E B Wedmore. I have not tried it yet.
 
'A bee bob is used to persuade a swarm to settle in a place convenient to
the beekeeper. A ball of worsted, made to resemble a small cluster or a
small fragrant piece of old comb, is secured in a situation near the hive,
suited to the convenience both of the bees and the beekeeper.
 
It may be noted that there is a tendency for a swarm to settle where a
previous swarm has settled, not only because the spot is found convenient
but probably through an odour remaining, and sometimes wax deposited.
 
A good form of bee bob consists of a board of a size to cover the top of a
brood chamber, with hooks on its edge for suspension with cord from a
convenient branch and having the bob proper fixed on its under side. This
may consist of one or two short strips of comb, glued to the board, or a
piece of rough oak bark giving a good foothold, the bark being smeared with
a solution made as in the next paragraph, from old comb. If wax is used, the
board should be stored when not in use with the wax freely exposed to the
light to save it from wax moth. When the swarm has settled, the board is
unhooked and the swarm carried away for hiving. If the board has a large
hole near the bee bob it may be placed with the swarm on an empty hive, and
a body with frames of foundation placed on top and covered over. The bees
will soon run up.
 
Preparation of solution.
 
The part of a comb next the top bar contains propolis added to strengthen
the comb where the strain on it is greatest. This part is the most aromatic
and smells also of honey and of brood. Some such old comb should be broken
up and boiled in a little water. This preparation gives an odour highly
attractive to bees and if smeared over the inside of skeps or box hives
fitted with foundation serves to attract swarms. [End of quotation from Wedmore]
 
(The above was written many years ago, and beekeepers would now probably use
Swarm Lures, which are a chemical distillation of certain bee pheremones
secreted by the Nasanov gland.)
 
Sincerely
Tom Barrett
49 South Park
Foxrock
Dublin 18
Ireland
 
e mail [log in to unmask]
Tel + 353 1 289 5269
Fax + 353 1 289 9940
 
'The Beeman from Ireland'