Is Deliberately Targeting Castoff Honeybee Swarms Worth The Effort Involved? Discussion Series Part1

One of the biggest obstacles for some is finding successful trap locations. So in this series I am going to test wether having traps in reserve to immediately set up after a catch can be more effective then having all your traps deployed.
If you have caught at a location why not continue to focus on that location the days following a successful swarm catch when we know castoff and secondary swarms are likely to be coming in the next few days from that same colony your swarm came from. You can catch your new Queens Daughter!
You already have all the proof you need that the location is good so why not double down?
In the past when retrieving traps that were successful, that catch location could be without a trap for 2 to 4 days depending on the turnaround I was able to achieve. After watching the behavior of castoff swarms and wondering how many I have been missing not replacing traps immediately after the catch I decided to find out
This year we have two 5 over 5 Nuc Traps ready to hang at every catch location when removing successful traps. These traps are the orange strap traps pictured and we will use multiple ways to hang them. These trap swaps will be made in the evening of the catch if possible
We know these castoff and secondary swarms are smaller so perhaps even a 5 frame Nuc, Jester Box or Pro Nuc (Shameful Plug) could be all it takes to make it a double while leaving it there when you retrieve your already full trap. If I run low on 5X5 we will deploy a Baited Pro Nuc
Keys to success we know before we start
1 That we have to leave no Orphan bees behind. I have witnessed many times that Orphan bees will shut down all scouting activity at a trap until they leave or die off and this can take weeks.
Full traps should only be moved at night to ensure no Orphans!
2 We need to be very careful not to overscent or choose to not scent at all if using well lived in equipment. These secondary swarms could be as close as tomorrow so the fresh scent may be to strong causing a "refusal to move in"
3 We need to remember these castoff swarms are likely virgin queens. Mating may still need to take place and transferring frames can be risky with her potentially flying off
4 The successful trap and the deployment of the replacement trap needs to happen the day of or the day after the catch to ensure an unoccupied and available trap is on site for the castoff scouts to find
I am sure we will learn more as we go this year and if you have more to add please leave a comment.
Also in this video
The first "not my bees" trap to catch in 2024 is the winning trap from last year. Trap #3 is on the board!
#freebees !
2 weeks ahead of schedule compared to the last 2 years Memorial Day Weekend Catches Grand Rapids Michigan
This year I am going to focus hard on being ready and prepared for castoff and secondary Swarms at locations we just caught at to see how many swarms we are missing while having traps occupied or away the days following a catch
This will mean I need to immediately remove the trap that caught and reset traps that same evening
Comment if you think all this effort will be worth it
I have never purchased bees. I catch Honeybee Swarms in Grand Rapids and with these techniques you to can catch bees anywhere honeybees are present
Please subscribe for frequent updates and message me anytime if you need more help then what my channel provides. Let’s save you some money catching free Honeybees year after year

[@rtxhoneybees]

Thanks for the shout out. I am in complete agreement. Get them moved ASAP. My issue is I only get to most of my traps every two weeks or so. And even then, I have to have somewhere to take them if i have caught several. Luckily, I just started a new yard 1.5 miles from my farm so thats not much of an issue anymore. When I get my side entances installed next year im going to try your short distance move trick. And with the bottom plug - just stop it already with added features! Ill never catch up! 😅😅

[@fishingforbees]

If you are on Facebook check us out at
m.facebook.com/groups/2195676690581097/?ref=sharem.facebook.com/groups/2195676690581097/?ref=share&exp=9594
Honeybee Swarm Catching on Facebook
Bottom plug came from DW in that group. Check him out at
bluegreenhorizons.org/
Best thing I ever did was establishing a holding yard to take swarms to. Enjoy the new yard
Thank you for the comment and keep up the great work. I just watched your Frame Building Video last night

[@Kevin_Dyke]

Nice catch! I might be getting another swarm at my trap by the lake. I put my trap back up this morning and now 50+ scouts looking it out. Maybe the same hive that swarmed a day earlier might swarm again.

[@fishingforbees]

Fingers crossed 🤞
Be prepared for a possible virgin queen. They can be flighty when you pull a frame

[@carybruton7284]

Great stuff brother!

[@fishingforbees]

Thank you

[@josephrawls]

Great video.

[@fishingforbees]

Thank you

[@matthewb7800]

I caught 3 swarms in the same box over the course of about 5 days. Always hang box right back up.

[@fishingforbees]

Wow! Great results
Thank you for the comment

[@KennedyArpe-wk7tq]

Do you have the blueprint for this summer traps?

[@fishingforbees]

The dimensions are in the show notes for this video
These are a common 40 liter trap based on Thomas Seeley research
th-cam.com/video/SIQTLtHjtys/w-d-xo.htmlsi=t0uvY0pb3JTxipf_

[@fishingforbees]

The orange strap replacement traps are two five frame nucs stacked. One has an attached bottom board and the only thing holding them together is the orange pull straps. Pulled very tight
Side hole with circle entrance disc
Modified migratory cover
French Cleat system to hang
Frames only in the top nuc
One bait comb. 4 starter strips