Easy Made Bee Trap

[blanc]

Bailey I am not at all bugged by those more experienced than myself and just having fun in the back and forth. Will try my traps none the less and see if I can make a go of it anyhow, Appreciate your advice and will awaiting your call for those nucs in spring.

[bud1]

i catch bout as many swarms as most and dont use frames as when i did no bees and the ones without plenty; all i care about is getting my skinners on the suckers and then wil do what it takes.
but when using plastic like the boys told you they gona hane plenty condensation. and sho will get hot if sun hits them

[D Semple]

I prefer to use other peoples houses/sheds/barns etc. for my swarm traps

Scott

ME TOO!         Fantastic line Scott, can I steal it?   

[Nature Coast Beek]

Blanc, here ya go...should be plenty of encouragement. 

Proof that Flower Pot Swarm Traps Work! Part 2

[johng]

I have used the flower pot type trap before with success. The difference in removing them from it and doing a regular cut out is the new comb. The new comb in the flower pot is so soft that it is very hard to rubber band it into the frames. I ended up just having to shake them out into the hive just like you would a package of bees. I used a frame of brood from another hive to help hold the swarm in the hive. That was my experience anyway. 

[blanc]

Thanks for the video Nature Coast Beek. I get to check mine every couple days so they won't have too much time to build hive and east to set up verses nuc traps.
Blanc

[Nature Coast Beek]

Interesting study conducted in SE Louisiana regarding swarm activity over 5 year period. Actual scout bee activity as well as cavity size preferred, timing of swarm activity, swarm sizes and distances traveled are analyzed.

40 liters seems to be the "sweet spot" as far as cavity size preferred (which jives with other info./studies I've seen/read). But (take heart blanc), smaller sized cavities the size of "bird nesting boxes" were occupied.
Swarms will travel up to 6 miles with the mean being 2 miles.
The peak of swarm season in area looked to be early to mid April (over the period studied, of course). Good info. for LA beeks. 

http://naldc.nal.usda.gov/download/13794/PDF

[Robo]

I did an un-scientific study of my own last year.  In 12 locations I hung a 20L and 30L swarm trap together.  In 8 locations I caught swarms in the 30L  (2 locations twice) and only in 1 location did a swarm choose the 20L over the 30L.

[Moots]

I did an un-scientific study of my own last year.  In 12 locations I hung a 20L and 30L swarm trap together.  In 8 locations I caught swarms in the 30L  (2 locations twice) and only in 1 location did a swarm choose the 20L over the 30L.

Robo,
I would argue both that your study was scientific. and the results are statistically significant. 

That's pretty impressive and convincing results...I guess the next step would be to give them 30 and 40 to choose from and see what happens. Although I'm not sure how much you can improve on those results. The other unknown is if the 30L trap would have not been an option, how many of those swarms would have passed, and how many would have taken the 20L option?

[Nature Coast Beek]

I'd defer to the scientific study. It's worth the read and easy to comprehend.

[Moots]

I'd defer to the scientific study. It's worth the read and easy to comprehend.

NCB,
Roger that... 

I was merely pointing out that I thought Robo's "study" had merit and was interesting. I plan on reading the full study when time allows...being a new Beek and in Southeast Louisiana, I'm definitely interested.

[Robo]

I would argue both that your study was scientific. and the results are statistically significant. 

The reason I said un-scientific was because there are many uncontrolled variables in my setup.  Such as entrance direction, entrance height and surround environment (some where on barns, others on trees).   Also, I believe geographical location plays a big part in bee behavior.   For instance, the deep south has much more absconding than here in the north.   Is it because there are many more nesting places available, or perhaps because they have more time to prepare for a milder winter to survive so they can be more choosy.  There is the opportunity to learn from any study,  just be cognizant of the environmental differences.

[Moots]

I would argue both that your study was scientific. and the results are statistically significant.  

The reason I said un-scientific was because there are many uncontrolled variables in my setup.  Such as entrance direction, entrance height and surround environment (some where on barns, others on trees).   Also, I believe geographical location plays a big part in bee behavior.   For instance, the deep south has much more absconding than here in the north.   Is it because there are many more nesting places available, or perhaps because they have more time to prepare for a milder winter to survive so they can be more choosy.  There is the opportunity to learn from any study,  just be cognizant of the environmental differences.

Robo,
I hear what you saying, all good points, and not to beat a dead horse   ....BUT!

My point was you had a controlled sample size and controlled a number of variables, swarm trap size, general location, etc.  Granted you didn't control all variables, I'm not sure any scientific study can in researching this particular subject.  No doubt, some studies control more than others, therefore warrant more merit.

But for clarification, while certainly not perfect, I think your study meets an acceptable minimum to qualify as scientific.  To me, a non-scientific study would be if I put a poll on this forum asking people based on their experience, what works better, 20L or 30L swarm traps.  Now, that would be equivalent to these "meaningless" phone or text in polls that news agencies run all the time, which are truly "un-scientific' and TOTALLY without merit.

[edward]

Why not read the book honey bee democracy, it covers all of this and has shows the best way and variables to catch bee swarms.


mvh edward