I have BEARS here in Pa! Last year I caught 6 swarms while Bears destroyed 14 swarm traps. Notice Lemongrass oil seems to be just as good as SC for bees, but bears like LGO !! I make 5 frame traps out of old pallets as i'm not going to use expensive plywood for bears to tear apart. Do NOT see any difference if trap has old comb or not. Notice i do better in smaller traps than larger traps. And Notice if I have a large entrance, mice or flying squirrels tend to use the trap and bees stay away from those traps.
I'm sure glad I don't have bears here I would be furious if I had 14 swarm traps destroyed. Makes sense to make them out of pallets. Definitely cheaper.
Your swarm boxes are exactly like mine. I painted inside lid and insides with old propolis and comb wax in water I melted down, just used an old brush. Looks ugly in there but bees love it. I put in one old brood comb. One plastic foundation comb. The rest are empty frames with a starter strip. I use lemongrass oil and swarm commander combo. I use 20# mono fishing line and make double XX sideways for support when they build it out. I learned the hard way not doing the support. They 9 time out of 10 start on these starter strips over anything else. They build fast and if they complete it to far it may collapse when you take it home if not supported, especially in warm weather. I have caught at least 12 swarms last 2 years. I have 18 traps. Didn't get them all out last year. Ran out of Hive boxes. Swarm Commander 1/2 spray on inside lid, 1/2 spray at top center of frames, full spray in and around entrance before I leave. I put lemon on my finger tips and just dab to tops of the frames a couple times. Sometimes I put a few drops on a cotton ball put in a plastic zip baggie, leave open about 1 inch and toss in bottom. If you put up trap around buildings, take box down once a week and check to be sure a paper wasp has not moved in. If they do, honeybees will not use. I have found them in my box even on a wood line before. Good Luck Swarm Catching! It's about time here in SE Ohio
Sounds like we do things pretty similar. I haven't used reinforcement on the frames yet but I do know what you mean. That comb is fragile especially in warm weather. I also noticed bees didn't like a traps with carpenter ants in it either also had one swarm move out because it got infested with SHB before I could move them home. Appreciate you taking time out of your day to watch my video and leaving a comment. I enjoy hearing about others journeys and even learning from them. Thanks again🐝👍
I can take an empty pill bottle and make a queen catcher cage. I never thought of doing it like this. With a bunch of holes in the white cap and a piston I can even mark the queen. Thanks for showing this operation. Great tip.
Ever since I decided to try my hand at beekeeping, I can't stop looking in people's backyards as I drive. There are a lot more beehives than I would have guessed. I also can't help myself but look for clover and wildflowers. I want to try my luck catching a swarm some day. Thanks for the video. New subscriber.
I know exactly what you mean. I never used to pay much attention to wild flowers. Always thought oh there's a weed but now I see bee food🐝😀I love catching swarms till I run out of equipment to put them all LOL. Thanks for the sub friend it really helps👍❤🐝
Thank you for the info! It was very helpful! You should do another video with a more involved comparison between the lemon grass and swarm commander. I would love to know if there is a difference then.
I am a new beekeeper. Started late 2020 with a cutout and caught 4 swarms 2021. 2 of the swarms stayed and 2 left so I ended up with 3 active Hives last year and got 5 gallons of Honey. Hives are struggling to recover from winter right now but the swarm traps are out and will see how many swarms I can catch this season. I tried both swarm commander and lemon grass oil but found the traps with old comb did the best at attracting swarms.
Swarm commander or similar and old brood comb might give you a small advantage but they're more like lucky charms when you condsider that bees freely move into old cars, walls and chimneys without any such enticements. Yet.... even I use lemon grass oil and line my boxes with propolis just in case it helps... we don't want to miss out on freebees 🙂
I just found your channel! I've always used lemon grass oil, and caught several swarms, but thought it was interesting the bees chose your swarm commander trap over the lemon grass. Great video!
I use them both and I have had success with both. But like you said old drawn out comb is what works really well. Great video buddy thanks for sharing.
First, I am not a beekeeper... yet. I have a forked White Ash stump next to my driveway that is about 6 feet high on each fork. Last May a colony moved in and set up shop. I loved watching them and they never seemed to mind me being around. They did not survive our Southern Indiana Winter. I believe there were two other hives on our 10 acres. What are the odds that a new swarm will find this dead out and move in this year? And if they do, what can I do to help them survive the winter?
I'd say since it probably smells like bees now your odds of a new coloney moving in are pretty good. Unfortunately natural coloneys like this are hard to diagnose health issues due to not being able to inspect the hive for pest & disease. If a colony has a varroa issue or low food stores going into winter it's almost a sure death sentence.
William, why do you say your swarm season was a fail? You caught 4 that’s not a fail, ZERO is a fail! You caught 4 times as many as some folks. I caught 2 last year and I’ve already caught 2 this year and that’s my limit because I don’t want any more. lol Of course if I see a swarm in a tree that I can reach from the ground I will rescue them and give them to someone. Hopefully you will double last year’s catch. Good luck!
Personally I just feel my little experiment was a fail because I was hoping for more comparable results between the two traps and I also lost some video due to tech issues. That's awesome you already caught two! I'm still debating hanging up traps this year as I just can't keep up with the expenses for more equipment. I have 11 overwintered colonies all together & half of them need split very soon. I'm hoping they don't swarm before I can get it done as I'd like to keep some of their genetics in the apiary. Thanks for stopping by I appreciate ya friend👍
For the small swarms ..... A container of honey , placed near or even in the hive box will help feed them , thus expanding their numbers .... thus more foragers , more denisty , more chance of survival..... less flight time , more rearing time . Just a thought .... if You have to go out less to get food for the New family wouldn't it expand much more quickly ?
A open container of honey would more likely promote a robbing situation which would decimate a small colony. People do feed 1:1 inside the hives but it doesn't smell like honey which would attract robbers. Bees want to forage. Each bee has a different job depending on age. The older bees are foragers and guard bees and the younger bees are the nurse bees that care for the young larvea. The population of a hive has little to do with its survival in my opinion but rather the health of the bees and a good mated queen. Integrated pest management is also key to honeybee survival along with good ventilation during the winter to avoid moisture build up. Thanks for stopping by I appreciate the question. ❤️🐝
Will it warm up enough yet this year for the bees to swarm? LOL You beat me last year. I only caught 3 swarms - but I didn't have any swarm traps up. Where I am at, it's either your bees or the neighbors bees that swarmed. No feral bees around here. Have a good week and thanks for the video. You are getting close to that 1k sub.
Thanks Russell! I hope it don't warm up to quick I still need to split some hives before they swarm. If you caught 3 swarms without bait hives I'd say you beat me😄
Last year was my first year for swarm traps and IT WAS A FAIL 0 nada lol. I started early this year I have 6 out now and plan on at least 5 more this year I use lemon grass and swarm commander, not in the same traps of course. Just what I have heard so take with a grain of salt but LOCATION is the key and old brood comb. If I catch one this year I will swap out with a NEW box and use opposite lure and see what happens. I have HEARD the bees will swarm not only on the same tree but the same branch, will be interesting to learn. JMHO but 4 swarms is a good year. How many traps did you have out to catch 4 swarms and how many were in your apiary. Good luck this year, Dennis
I honestly can't remember how many I had out last year. I'd say everything you heard is right. Location and old brood comb helps a lot. With the lures a little goes a long ways and to much can be bad for results. Sounds like you have a pretty good idea on how to catch them so stay at it and don't give up. If you see bees foraging around your location then you know for sure there are bees close by. Wish you the best of luck!
Congratulations on catching some swarms. If you use 10 framre deep boxes, you'll catch bigger swarms. Also, use deep frames in deep boxes to prevent bur comb.
@@BlanchardsBeesideally, but sometimes you just have to use what you got. I ran out of deep frames and resorted to interleaving deeps with mediums. Do have an order in for more deeps, but considering to morphing into using just mediums to reduce weight for my poor back.
Whenever I hear "a swarm in July ain't worth a fly." I go, so you don't want built-up frames? Swarms build hard and fast. Put them with frames you want built up. You could even combine hives.
I used both in each of my traps and well, I can't tell you or it will be a spoiler...........One I used a bit more of the SC than the LG, but again, can't tell you....LOL!!
This video shows exactly what I did th-cam.com/video/Xv2BWSLm48M/w-d-xo.htmlsi=IRpeNU6NMZllj1FO A squirt at the entrance and under the lid should be plenty. A little goes a long ways.
@@elenalazar7767 usually they are small swarms that can’t make enough bees to stay warm. Do you live in Florida? swarm in May is worth a load of hay; a swarm in June is worth a silver spoon; but a swarm in July is not worth a fly, a. proverbial bee-keepers' saying, mid 17th century; meaning that the later in the year it is, the less time there will be for bees to collect pollen from flowers in blossom.... ...
In some places in the video, your voice suddenly goed very high-pitched, like you had sucked in some helium. Almost comical. Must be a glitch in your audio.
@jesseschlenker7076 I could see how some see it as being expensive. I think it's currently $33.95 from Blythewood. How much does a package or Nuc of honeybees cost in your area? It's around $180 for 5 frame Nucs here so it definitely saved me money. I'm not trying to sell it lemon grass works great too!
I think that’s the reason it’s so expensive. If Nucs were 1/3 the normal cost, I bet SC would be half the cost. Not many people would buy it at that price.
🐝Catch FREE BEES with Swarm Commander! Affiliate🔗Link Below!⤵
blythewoodbeecompany.com/products/swarm-commander-premium-swarm-lure-spray?ref=Blanchard%27sBees
I have BEARS here in Pa! Last year I caught 6 swarms while Bears destroyed 14 swarm traps. Notice Lemongrass oil seems to be just as good as SC for bees, but bears like LGO !! I make 5 frame traps out of old pallets as i'm not going to use expensive plywood for bears to tear apart. Do NOT see any difference if trap has old comb or not. Notice i do better in smaller traps than larger traps. And Notice if I have a large entrance, mice or flying squirrels tend to use the trap and bees stay away from those traps.
I'm sure glad I don't have bears here I would be furious if I had 14 swarm traps destroyed. Makes sense to make them out of pallets. Definitely cheaper.
Your swarm boxes are exactly like mine. I painted inside lid and insides with old propolis and comb wax in water I melted down, just used an old brush. Looks ugly in there but bees love it. I put in one old brood comb. One plastic foundation comb. The rest are empty frames with a starter strip. I use lemongrass oil and swarm commander combo. I use 20# mono fishing line and make double XX sideways for support when they build it out. I learned the hard way not doing the support. They 9 time out of 10 start on these starter strips over anything else. They build fast and if they complete it to far it may collapse when you take it home if not supported, especially in warm weather. I have caught at least 12 swarms last 2 years. I have 18 traps. Didn't get them all out last year. Ran out of Hive boxes. Swarm Commander 1/2 spray on inside lid, 1/2 spray at top center of frames, full spray in and around entrance before I leave. I put lemon on my finger tips and just dab to tops of the frames a couple times. Sometimes I put a few drops on a cotton ball put in a plastic zip baggie, leave open about 1 inch and toss in bottom. If you put up trap around buildings, take box down once a week and check to be sure a paper wasp has not moved in. If they do, honeybees will not use. I have found them in my box even on a wood line before. Good Luck Swarm Catching! It's about time here in SE Ohio
Sounds like we do things pretty similar. I haven't used reinforcement on the frames yet but I do know what you mean. That comb is fragile especially in warm weather. I also noticed bees didn't like a traps with carpenter ants in it either also had one swarm move out because it got infested with SHB before I could move them home. Appreciate you taking time out of your day to watch my video and leaving a comment. I enjoy hearing about others journeys and even learning from them. Thanks again🐝👍
I can take an empty pill bottle and make a queen catcher cage. I never thought of doing it like this. With a bunch of holes in the white cap and a piston I can even mark the queen. Thanks for showing this operation. Great tip.
Thanks for watching👍It's actually called a queen marking tube and can be found at some of the bee supply company's like Mann Lake or the internet. ❤🐝
Great video. Thanks for using Swarm Commander!!!
I love it!❤🐝It defiantly worked👍
Ever since I decided to try my hand at beekeeping, I can't stop looking in people's backyards as I drive. There are a lot more beehives than I would have guessed. I also can't help myself but look for clover and wildflowers.
I want to try my luck catching a swarm some day. Thanks for the video.
New subscriber.
I know exactly what you mean. I never used to pay much attention to wild flowers. Always thought oh there's a weed but now I see bee food🐝😀I love catching swarms till I run out of equipment to put them all LOL. Thanks for the sub friend it really helps👍❤🐝
I use swarm commander in all my swarm traps and they've done exceptionally well. Thanks!!
That stuff does wonders for sure!🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝
Thank you for the info!
It was very helpful!
You should do another video with a more involved comparison between the lemon grass and swarm commander.
I would love to know if there is a difference then.
I would love to do that!
I have always used lemon grass oil but have heard great things about swarm commander, Im going to order a bottle and give it a try next year.
I am a new beekeeper. Started late 2020 with a cutout and caught 4 swarms 2021. 2 of the swarms stayed and 2 left so I ended up with 3 active Hives last year and got 5 gallons of Honey. Hives are struggling to recover from winter right now but the swarm traps are out and will see how many swarms I can catch this season. I tried both swarm commander and lemon grass oil but found the traps with old comb did the best at attracting swarms.
That's awsome! I started spring 2020 with a swarm as well and now have 11! I hope you have an awsome swarm season 🐝🐝🐝Thanks for watching👍
I like your video, nice to meet you guys🙏
Thank you very much!❤🐝
Swarm commander or similar and old brood comb might give you a small advantage but they're more like lucky charms when you condsider that bees freely move into old cars, walls and chimneys without any such enticements. Yet.... even I use lemon grass oil and line my boxes with propolis just in case it helps... we don't want to miss out on freebees 🙂
I just found your channel! I've always used lemon grass oil, and caught several swarms, but thought it was interesting the bees chose your swarm commander trap over the lemon grass. Great video!
Thanks! I honestly like using both.
I've watched this video like 4 times. One of the best parts is when you switch to your chipmunk voice lol
😂
I use them both and I have had success with both. But like you said old drawn out comb is what works really well. Great video buddy thanks for sharing.
Appreciate Mark👍🐝
Amen, drawn comb, we can never have to much.
I forgot to mention one more thing but I guess that'll be for another video. Thanks Mike👍
I love experiments
First, I am not a beekeeper... yet. I have a forked White Ash stump next to my driveway that is about 6 feet high on each fork. Last May a colony moved in and set up shop. I loved watching them and they never seemed to mind me being around. They did not survive our Southern Indiana Winter. I believe there were two other hives on our 10 acres. What are the odds that a new swarm will find this dead out and move in this year? And if they do, what can I do to help them survive the winter?
I'd say since it probably smells like bees now your odds of a new coloney moving in are pretty good. Unfortunately natural coloneys like this are hard to diagnose health issues due to not being able to inspect the hive for pest & disease. If a colony has a varroa issue or low food stores going into winter it's almost a sure death sentence.
@@BlanchardsBees. my uneducated thought is mites got to them
@@greggmacklin4222 I'd say that's probably a pretty good guess
William, why do you say your swarm season was a fail? You caught 4 that’s not a fail, ZERO is a fail! You caught 4 times as many as some folks. I caught 2 last year and I’ve already caught 2 this year and that’s my limit because I don’t want any more. lol Of course if I see a swarm in a tree that I can reach from the ground I will rescue them and give them to someone. Hopefully you will double last year’s catch. Good luck!
Personally I just feel my little experiment was a fail because I was hoping for more comparable results between the two traps and I also lost some video due to tech issues. That's awesome you already caught two! I'm still debating hanging up traps this year as I just can't keep up with the expenses for more equipment. I have 11 overwintered colonies all together & half of them need split very soon. I'm hoping they don't swarm before I can get it done as I'd like to keep some of their genetics in the apiary. Thanks for stopping by I appreciate ya friend👍
For the small swarms .....
A container of honey , placed near or even in the hive box will help feed them , thus expanding their numbers .... thus more foragers , more denisty , more chance of survival..... less flight time , more rearing time .
Just a thought
.... if You have to go out less to get food for the New family wouldn't it expand much more quickly ?
A open container of honey would more likely promote a robbing situation which would decimate a small colony. People do feed 1:1 inside the hives but it doesn't smell like honey which would attract robbers. Bees want to forage. Each bee has a different job depending on age. The older bees are foragers and guard bees and the younger bees are the nurse bees that care for the young larvea. The population of a hive has little to do with its survival in my opinion but rather the health of the bees and a good mated queen. Integrated pest management is also key to honeybee survival along with good ventilation during the winter to avoid moisture build up. Thanks for stopping by I appreciate the question. ❤️🐝
Will it warm up enough yet this year for the bees to swarm? LOL You beat me last year. I only caught 3 swarms - but I didn't have any swarm traps up. Where I am at, it's either your bees or the neighbors bees that swarmed. No feral bees around here.
Have a good week and thanks for the video. You are getting close to that 1k sub.
Thanks Russell! I hope it don't warm up to quick I still need to split some hives before they swarm. If you caught 3 swarms without bait hives I'd say you beat me😄
Last year was my first year for swarm traps and IT WAS A FAIL 0 nada lol. I started early this year I have 6 out now and plan on at least 5 more this year I use lemon grass and swarm commander, not in the same traps of course. Just what I have heard so take with a grain of salt but LOCATION is the key and old brood comb. If I catch one this year I will swap out with a NEW box and use opposite lure and see what happens. I have HEARD the bees will swarm not only on the same tree but the same branch, will be interesting to learn.
JMHO but 4 swarms is a good year. How many traps did you have out to catch 4 swarms and how many were in your apiary. Good luck this year, Dennis
I honestly can't remember how many I had out last year. I'd say everything you heard is right. Location and old brood comb helps a lot. With the lures a little goes a long ways and to much can be bad for results. Sounds like you have a pretty good idea on how to catch them so stay at it and don't give up. If you see bees foraging around your location then you know for sure there are bees close by. Wish you the best of luck!
Congratulations on catching some swarms. If you use 10 framre deep boxes, you'll catch bigger swarms. Also, use deep frames in deep boxes to prevent bur comb.
Thanks!
@@BlanchardsBeesideally, but sometimes you just have to use what you got. I ran out of deep frames and resorted to interleaving deeps with mediums. Do have an order in for more deeps, but considering to morphing into using just mediums to reduce weight for my poor back.
@glaucouswingedgull most definitely! What ever works right🐝👍
What did you give those bees grin
Whenever I hear "a swarm in July ain't worth a fly." I go, so you don't want built-up frames? Swarms build hard and fast. Put them with frames you want built up. You could even combine hives.
Absolutely! Free Bees 🐝 are free bees
cant wait for it to stop snowing, so the swarms will start.
As long as they're not from your own hives right! 😄🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝😲
I used both in each of my traps and well, I can't tell you or it will be a spoiler...........One I used a bit more of the SC than the LG, but again, can't tell you....LOL!!
Now I'm looking forward to seeing your results!🐝🐝🐝🐝The suspense! Thanks for stopping by Mike😉👍
@@BlanchardsBees It's really not that suspenseful.
Darn, now that makes sense.
How many sprays do you use with SC?
This video shows exactly what I did th-cam.com/video/Xv2BWSLm48M/w-d-xo.htmlsi=IRpeNU6NMZllj1FO A squirt at the entrance and under the lid should be plenty. A little goes a long ways.
Which is the best in this two botel...swrm comd or lemongrass oil
I like both
In my area no one know about swrm comd but i found lemongrass oil ...is this attract swarm to my wall traditional box?
I possibly could if the size is right. Don't use to much a few drops will work. Check and re apply after a few weeks if there is no activity.
@@BlanchardsBees Sir what i adjoin inside the traditional box ..which is best for scout bees
@@parachinarbeekeeper139 old dark brood comb works well also
Can I use lemon grass oil also
Absolutely! I will sometimes even use a little bit of both.
for the 2nd swarm box, how long did it sit before you caught the swarm?
I think I put them up in May and I believe it says on the video when I caught them. I'd say a couple months probably.
Did you catch a swarm using ONLY lemongrass oil?
Not by itself atleast not this last year. It does work especially if your on a budget. Just got to remember a little goes a long ways.😉🐝
@@BlanchardsBees Thanks, I've subscribed to your channel.
@@barrybrum much appreciated friend! Welcome to the family🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝
naice work
Thanks
A swarm in July isn't worth a fly
But sometimes they do turn into nice hives😊❤️🐝
Who said that? I got 3 swarms last August and they are still alive ,not treated and fed them honey.
@@elenalazar7767 usually they are small swarms that can’t make enough bees to stay warm. Do you live in Florida?
swarm in May is worth a load of hay; a swarm in June is worth a silver spoon; but a swarm in July is not worth a fly, a. proverbial bee-keepers' saying, mid 17th century; meaning that the later in the year it is, the less time there will be for bees to collect pollen from flowers in blossom.... ...
July or even August swarm is not a problem in North Alabama.
In some places in the video, your voice suddenly goed very high-pitched, like you had sucked in some helium. Almost comical. Must be a glitch in your audio.
I was just having fun with the editing LOL🐝😂Thanks for watching!👍
It's all your fault NYC
When I see or hear swarm commander I stop watching.
Sorry but I'd love to hear more.
@BlanchardsBees It's too expensive and seems to be profiteering on the bee keeper community that is so helpful in general.
@jesseschlenker7076 I could see how some see it as being expensive. I think it's currently $33.95 from Blythewood. How much does a package or Nuc of honeybees cost in your area? It's around $180 for 5 frame Nucs here so it definitely saved me money. I'm not trying to sell it lemon grass works great too!
I think that’s the reason it’s so expensive. If Nucs were 1/3 the normal cost, I bet SC would be half the cost. Not many people would buy it at that price.
@jamesbarron1202 unfortunately nothing is getting much cheaper either