Swarm Lure

[jxbeeman]

just wondering if there is any way to make your own swarm lure.  What are some methods of attracting swarms-->nuc with some old frames is the only one i know of.  Also when beelining is there a way to tell distance to the hive at all.  thanks

[Beth Kirkley]

I read that you could take some brood, smash it up, and have it in some pantyhose or cheese cloth as a lure.

Never tried anything for a lure though.

Beth

[Robo]

I have heard that lemon grass oil also may work.

When lining,  you mark a bee and calculate it's round trip time.  From that you can get an approximation of distance.

Here is an article that explains it http://www.beesource.com/pov/wenner/bsjun1992.htm

[jxbeeman]

"If one anaesthetizes foragers, numbered disks or Christmas-tree tinsel can be glued in place."
http://www.beesource.com/pov/wenner/bsjun1992.htm

How does one anaesthetizes foragers, and what kind of glue and how long the tinsel.

[Robo]

Don't know.  The old timers use to dust with flour.   I would try marking them with a Testors model paint pen.  The same thing I use for marking queens.

[Jerrymac]

Some people take their terminated queens and put them in a jar of water I believe it is. Maybe squish them up a little. I think M. Bush is one that does this as a swarm lure.

[Saucy]

Excuse my ignorance but would,t there be a dangaer of attracting bees from your own hives?

[Jerrymac]

You talking to me?

I believe they take many queens mixed with water and it sits for awhile. I don't know why it would attract bees from your own hives any more than anything else would. Unless you are wondering about the bees recognising the smell of their old queen. As I said they let it sit for awhile and perhaps the bees forgot about the old smell.

[thegolfpsycho]

I don't believe the queen pheremone induces swarming.   It's more an attempt to get them to take up residence in your equipment.  Bees like to live where other bees have lived, and what better evidence to them than queen pheremone.  Once they make up their minds to go, it can be difficult to stop them.