I built a cat kennel, the following day a swarm moved in. I had been leaving syrup out for the bees as the plants didn't flower too well this spring. I built them a nice hive, before I could move them a second swarm turned up and moved into the new hive. I've accidentally turned into a beekeeper.
After watching several videos on how to construct a Russian scion I made two and tested them last summer. They were made from wood and covered with beeswax much as described. I baited one with fresh queen extract and the other with lemon grass oil. I pulled them up on a rope tossed over a limb to the height where most of the swarms collect in two pine trees near my apiary. The idea was to be able to catch them on the scion which could be easily lowered to a hive instead of standing on top of a ladder or shaking them down from higher perches with a rope tossed over the branch. Well, I caught about 30 swarms last summer but not a single one on either of the scions with about a dozen swarms landing on branches above or below the scions in the two trees. I never saw a single bee on them even though the clusters were often within 10 feet of the scion. The bees were just indifferent to them. I had swarms last summer cluster on the ground, on goldenrod stems, fence posts and on several other branches in small trees within 200 feet of my hives as well as the two pine trees, but never on the scions. So they were of no value in my situation, but I would be interested to hear of anyone else who may have had some success. have seen several videos on
I have always believed that to attract an emerging swarm it was important that the object should resemble a clustering swarm i.e. dark in colour and hanging oval in shape. In my apiary I have 2 branches on old apple trees that bend down and up and look very much like a swarm: between them these attract about 50% of all swarms despite dozens of other trees and bushes. I have never found emerging swarms to be attracted to comb or wax. It would be easy to set up some competing emerging swarm attractors (as Tom Sealy did for swarm lure boxes) and find out which features are important. Maybe I will try it this year, although my Buckfast bees don't swarm much.
I'm going to make me a couple of those this year. I build swarm trap boxes out of old wood from cutouts that's covered in propolis and any other wood I cover in beeswax with a old brood frame with blank starter strip frames. They are time consuming but last for years. Thanks!
I built a scion trap and put it in a nearby tree, then I noticed that they always (9 swarms this season) swarmed due south. Unfortunately, the trap was to to the east.🤣
I loved this video.. I did not know the different between a bate hive and swarm hunting vs the swarm magnet .. this was a super helpful video.. I am total making one for the spring time!!
Queen bees live in the hive and only fly on their neuptial flight soon after imergine and again many months if not years later when they swarm. This means the queen bee's flight muscles are weak and she cannot fly for long periods of time which is why she will land on a nearby object to rest while the scout bees look for a perminant home. This is also why she will remain there as long as two day waiting for the scout bee to find an acceptable new home. If the bees know in advance the location of their new home, they would not need to wait for many hours before going to their new home. Other than this; good information.
Thanks for the shout out (fogot the lemongrass while it cools). An improvement would be to use the lid of a 30L bucket. Means that if you get a swarm then you can lower it into the bucket for transport
Hi Lawrence, yes I’ve seen these swarm rests used not by myself but I can definitely say they work. Thx Lawrence mate really loving all your new content at the moment your getting us all ready for the new season.
Thanks Dean! Always very much appreciate people sharing my videos on forums/FB groups etc. I try and limit my spamming the boards to once or twice a month :D
@@BlackMountainHoney thank you wery much for your reply. Any chance for how to for dummies :) im afraid the bees would found the queen not ok/disabled...
I built a cat kennel, the following day a swarm moved in. I had been leaving syrup out for the bees as the plants didn't flower too well this spring. I built them a nice hive, before I could move them a second swarm turned up and moved into the new hive. I've accidentally turned into a beekeeper.
After watching several videos on how to construct a Russian scion I made two and tested them last summer. They were made from wood and covered with beeswax much as described. I baited one with fresh queen extract and the other with lemon grass oil. I pulled them up on a rope tossed over a limb to the height where most of the swarms collect in two pine trees near my apiary. The idea was to be able to catch them on the scion which could be easily lowered to a hive instead of standing on top of a ladder or shaking them down from higher perches with a rope tossed over the branch. Well, I caught about 30 swarms last summer but not a single one on either of the scions with about a dozen swarms landing on branches above or below the scions in the two trees. I never saw a single bee on them even though the clusters were often within 10 feet of the scion. The bees were just indifferent to them. I had swarms last summer cluster on the ground, on goldenrod stems, fence posts and on several other branches in small trees within 200 feet of my hives as well as the two pine trees, but never on the scions. So they were of no value in my situation, but I would be interested to hear of anyone else who may have had some success.
have seen several videos on
I'm wondering if adding a spray of Swarm commander or Lemon grass oil would of helped ? Ithink that's what I'll do.
This is a good shout! :D
Ill be sure to update on any progress when we enter swarm season :D
Love it!. I have to leave my hives for 3 weeks at a time for work, so this and the bait hives may just help me keep my bees.
Bait hives defo for longer term. I reckon you will get an hour or two tops out of this but good if you are around :D
I have always believed that to attract an emerging swarm it was important that the object should resemble a clustering swarm i.e. dark in colour and hanging oval in shape. In my apiary I have 2 branches on old apple trees that bend down and up and look very much like a swarm: between them these attract about 50% of all swarms despite dozens of other trees and bushes. I have never found emerging swarms to be attracted to comb or wax. It would be easy to set up some competing emerging swarm attractors (as Tom Sealy did for swarm lure boxes) and find out which features are important. Maybe I will try it this year, although my Buckfast bees don't swarm much.
Its an interesting observation. I find its just that vertical surface they like to cluster underneath
I'm going to make me a couple of those this year. I build swarm trap boxes out of old wood from cutouts that's covered in propolis and any other wood I cover in beeswax with a old brood frame with blank starter strip frames. They are time consuming but last for years. Thanks!
You cant beat a bait hive but these are the perfect stop gap, especially if you have a sight on them (in your garden for example)
The tray itself I think maybe a bit weak to last for long, so why not put your plywood inside the tray and attach together with screws
The tray will outlast ply by a good few decades! LOL
Absolutly fantastic idea, you have once again inspired me to try this out, as i know of a few colonies in trees too high to remove.
Cheers Martyn :D
I built a scion trap and put it in a nearby tree, then I noticed that they always (9 swarms this season) swarmed due south. Unfortunately, the trap was to to the east.🤣
Normally I use a 5 gallon bucket lid to make transport easy by just adding the bucket after the catch, though I love the pillow filtercase idea
How do you find transporting in buckets. Ive cooked swarms in less than 5 mins before so always cautious
@@BlackMountainHoney cut an opening in the bucket and cover it with varroa mesh.
I loved this video.. I did not know the different between a bate hive and swarm hunting vs the swarm magnet .. this was a super helpful video.. I am total making one for the spring time!!
Thanks! Glad it was helpful :D
Laurence, this will be my first year coming up I’ll actually put out a few swarm traps. We’ll see how it goes.
Answered on latest live stream :D
Queen bees live in the hive and only fly on their neuptial flight soon after imergine and again many months if not years later when they swarm. This means the queen bee's flight muscles are weak and she cannot fly for long periods of time which is why she will land on a nearby object to rest while the scout bees look for a perminant home. This is also why she will remain there as long as two day waiting for the scout bee to find an acceptable new home. If the bees know in advance the location of their new home, they would not need to wait for many hours before going to their new home. Other than this; good information.
Thanks for the shout out (fogot the lemongrass while it cools). An improvement would be to use the lid of a 30L bucket. Means that if you get a swarm then you can lower it into the bucket for transport
I'm not overly keen on transporting in buckets. You can toast a swarm in minutes. I always have boxes on standby :D
@@BlackMountainHoney fair point 🤔
Maybe you could add ventilation to the bucket?
@@greghamilton889 I think its easier just to take the nuc to the scion. Otherwise its scion to ventilated bucket then into a nuc.
@@BlackMountainHoney think you might be right there. The design just feels like it's missing something. I'll have a think
Bucket Top sicons allow you to move the swarm easily.
Answered on latest live stream :D
Hi Lawrence, yes I’ve seen these swarm rests used not by myself but I can definitely say they work. Thx Lawrence mate really loving all your new content at the moment your getting us all ready for the new season.
Cheers Mark. We are all READY to get going now hey!
Definitely given this a try, Thanks
Good luck with it :D
I'd put a handle on the roof of it then use a rope over a tree to hoist it up.you can let it down real easy then.
Answered on latest live stream :D
Black plastic in the summer Florida sun... you just made a solar cooker!
Like to see a picture of that with a swarm ,
Awesome content we love to get into bees but the start up cost thanks for sharing
Thanks very much, i need a swarm or two!
Fingers crossed for you. This is more for keeping any swarms that you may lose. Definitely bait hives for you this year, Peter :(
@@BlackMountainHoney Thanks Laurence, got my bat hives ready for action, cant wait for April to arrive!
Shared in an American group I follow. See if we can get your international subscribers boosted.
Fun looking swarm trap
Thanks Dean! Always very much appreciate people sharing my videos on forums/FB groups etc. I try and limit my spamming the boards to once or twice a month :D
Hi, have you a link for them trays ? Cheers.
Shop around. I paid around £6 www.harrodhorticultural.com/plastic-trays-only-pid7685.html
Heard that some is clipping their qeens..what is your opinion on that? Doesnt the bees kill the Queen..se is "disabled""
I like to clip. Makes my management much easier and swarm retrieval is so easy
@@BlackMountainHoney thank you wery much for your reply. Any chance for how to for dummies :) im afraid the bees would found the queen not ok/disabled...
@@climb315 If you search the channel for clipping queens there is a video on it
@@BlackMountainHoney thank you wery much! All the best to you, enjoy
Great video and idea! But just a minute! 30 minutes in each apiary!!! This needs to be a video please I need that skill..
Ha! Will do. The 5 minute inspection :D