A few weeks ago, I decided I would try my hand at putting out a few swarm traps. Of course, I had to have a few swarm traps first.
A quick search of YouTube brought up an abundance of options. There are truly some great videos out there of people making traps. I opted to use something I already had in hand. Nuc boxes.
I had a few nuc boxes sitting around, so I made a few simple modifications to them and ended up with 5 traps. Basically, I drilled a hole (which can be plugged if need be) at the base of the hive. I attached a board to the rear with a hole in it, so I could hang it from a tree. I put the top on it, and screwed a couple of screws in it to hold it in place.
After very little time, I had traps. I put some frames in it. One frame of drawn comb went in each. I also dabbed a bit of lemongrass oil in it, and folded the swab I used in a baggie at the bottom of the trap. I put a dab of it at the entrance hole as well.
I then hung three of them on my property. One at a friend’s place, and one at my mother-in-law’s house.
The good news, I just got a phone call from my mother-in-law, there are bees “All over the box, coming in and out.” Apparently they are loud enough in the box she can hear them from the outside. I will go out tomorrow and check them out.
