Greetings to all from Mexico ! There are just tremendous numbers of swarms in this part of Mexico, since there are many beekeepers, many feral colonies and ALL africanized (the swarm more often). I believe this could be an easy way to improve our colony numbers, since we could handle an extra 200-300 colonies. So I am planning to set 200 swarm traps next month. I will buy cardboard boxes about the size of a normal hive box and platic boxes to cover them. I will then make a whole on the bottom of the box and hang this traps on the roads and near my apiaries to recatch my own bees. I have asked the manufacturer (PheroTech) for information on the swarm lures that are supposed to attract swarms by freeing a Queen feromone. Is this atractant worthy? I have also heard that lemon-grass (that's how it is called in spanish: Pasto de limsn) can be put inside the trap as an atractant. Are there any other natural attractans? Another question: Should the boxes be empty? Should I put a frame of foundation? Should I put old frames in the box? I will thank very much any information or comments on how I can do this correctly. (please forgive my english grammar) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Luis Rommel Beutelspacher (\ Maya Honey S.A. de C.V. -{|||8- Ticul, Yucatan, Mixico. (/ Tel/Fax (997) 20715 [log in to unmask] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~