Grant Gillard wrote:
>
> Any of you use swarm traps with pheremone lures to catch swarms?


My earlier response to this question resulted in a follow up question
from someone to my email address, but I deleted it before responding -
(you have an interesting email address Kathy).

The question had to do with the degree of success using a swarm trap and
whether I put brood comb in the trap. As to the degree of success I'm
not sure how to answer that except to say if there are swarms in the
area, I'm confident I will get one. I do not use brood comb since the
swarm trap I use has a shape like a bucket - just can't get a frame of
brood in there. If I do not use a pheromone lure I don't have much luck
attracting a swarm.

With a trap like this it is important to relocate the swarm very shortly
after it arrives. Failure to do so will result in an established colony
complete with brood & honey - a real mess to remove and not highly
successful.

I saw a swarm trap in a Brushy Mtn catalog a couple of years ago that
used regular frames but I think they have discontinued that style. Too
bad because I would expect the use of brood comb to be effective in
attracting swarms and there would not be the urgency to relocate the
swarm before it gets established since the frames could simply be moved
to a regular hive.


AL

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
-- Visit www.honeybeeworld.com/BEE-L for rules, FAQ and  other info ---
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::