Methods of putting lemon grass oil in swarm traps.

[bailey]

Ok folks.  I'm curious on the various methods of deploying lemon grass oil into swarm traps.
I know about Scott's method of a mix of wax and oliv oil with lemongrass to make a paste. 
I know of buds method of medicine bottle with cotton ball.  I have a method of using a thin plastic container that I heat seal.   
Any other methods anyone would like to share ?   I will be happy to share my method details after I get all other opinions.  My method allows a lure vial to last all summer and still be effective in the fall. 

Thanks in advance. 
Bailey.
( swarm season is coming soon!!!!!    Woohoo!!!! )

[kathyp]

cotton ball, or if i have forgotten that, i just put a drop or two on a top bar and close it up.  if it's a trap i want to leave somewhere, i have wrapped the cotton ball in saran wrap and poked a few holes in it. that seems to work pretty well....if i remember the saran wrap 

[Robo]

I use the paste in plastic vials with a pin hole.  Seems to lasts all season.

[AllenF]

I fold up some paper towel between 2 of the frames with some drops on it. 

[ShaneJ]

Short bits of drinking straw stuffed with cotton wool and then add a few drops of LGO. I then staple these to the end of a frame in each trap box.

[bailey]

All good ideas.  Here is mine.   I take soft plastic pipettes that doctors offices and labs use to do urine sample tests with. ( new of course ).  
I draw up the desired amount of lgo.  Then set them upside down for a good while so all oil runs down into the bulb section.   I then take a hemostat ( I work hospitals ) and clamp the neck just above the bulb section.  
I then squeeze the bulb slightly to allow less air in the bulb.  
Then I seal it by passing a hot soldering iron across the upper section of the hemostat and melt the plastic above the clamp section.  
This melts and seals the bulb section.    Now comes the reason I compress the bulb prion to sealing.  
 If it remains compressed after I release the clamp I'm assured of a good seal.  When in the trap if it gets hot there is room enough for the air to expand without blowing the seal and letting the lgo run out.  
They smell lemony through the plastic all summer long.

There is my method.  
Bailey.

[blanc]

I just roll up a cotton swab in duct tape and place a few drops on both sides and last a good while.

[edward]

I just roll up a cotton swab in duct tape and place a few drops on both sides and last a good while.

Ahhh duct tape,  the beekeepers best friend 


mvh edward 

[Nature Coast Beek]

This will be my first season swarm trapping and I'm deploying first weekend in Feb. Just finished 10 swarm traps and looking to bait also.

From what I've researched (to death) I'm baiting with 1 old frame flanked by two new, empty frames that will have some wax on them and LGO. I'm also going to prepare swatches of remnant carpet that I will drop LGO onto over and over again which should build up quite a scent over time. Those swatches will go into pill bottles that will have small nail holes in them and placed inside the hive. I'm also going to put a dab of LGO on the trap entrance for good measure.

That's the plan as it stands right now, of course I'll probably break down and order some official "swarm lure" from the supply house. You know, belt and suspenders! 

[vmmartin]

Small ziploc bag
Cotton facial cleaning pad (these make excellent starters for smoker fuel too)
Few drops of LGO on pad, poke small hole in bag, place bag in between top bars and top.

[BGhoney]

couple of drops on a cotton ball in plastic wrap, taped lightly closed then stick just inside the bait hive.

[Greg]

Q-tip dipped in LGO.  Dab around the entranced of trap.  Dispose of  Q-Tip inside the trap.  Repeat in about 2 weeks if necessary.

[sterling]

This will be my first season swarm trapping and I'm deploying first weekend in Feb. Just finished 10 swarm traps and looking to bait also.

From what I've researched (to death) I'm baiting with 1 old frame flanked by two new, empty frames that will have some wax on them and LGO. I'm also going to prepare swatches of remnant carpet that I will drop LGO onto over and over again which should build up quite a scent over time. Those swatches will go into pill bottles that will have small nail holes in them and placed inside the hive. I'm also going to put a dab of LGO on the trap entrance for good measure.

That's the plan as it stands right now, of course I'll probably break down and order some official "swarm lure" from the supply house. You know, belt and suspenders! 

You can overdo the LGO. Too much will cause them to hang around the hive like they do around a wet honey frame. Don't ask how I know that. Alittle bit goes a long way.

[BEEMAN]

I use small sections of burlap with a few drops of lemon grass oil on them. I put them in zip lock bags with one corner of the bag cut off. Works well and last a long time.

[Nature Coast Beek]

@sterling

Funny you should say this...

This past weekend I was doing some woodworking (queen castles) and what not in the front drive. As I was cutting there were about 5 bees constantly hovering around the saw and making scouting trips into the garage. Earlier that morning I had mixed up some swarm trap lure as well as made a LGO paste of bee wax and LGO. The scouts were relentless. Suddenly I realized I had placed the frames that I had used the newly made LGO & bee wax on in the garage as well as got a trace residue on my hand. That is what was attracting them. I realized this and placed those "baited" frames in the garage fridge and went inside and washed my hands with some Go-Jo. In about 10 minutes all the scouts had withdrawn. So yes, a little goes a LOOOONG way. Now my fridge smells like Pledge!

Basically, if you can smell it (even a trace)...it's good to go. Human nose isn't very good so if it's human detectable, bee's are going to find it.

[Michael Bush]

I was using eye droppers, but it's hard to find a glass one, and the plastic ones melt in the essential oils... so I use a q-tip.  I dip it and drip it in the bait hive.

[ScooterTrash]

Thks Bailey, got 100 pipettes from Amazon and deploy this week.

[bailey]

Hope it works as good for you as it does me.
Bailey