Top 10 Tips for Catching Honeybees Swarms
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- čas přidán 26. 06. 2024
- In this video, we share our Top 10 Tips for catching honeybees.
Spring is just around the corner and it's almost honeybee swarm season. If you are interested in catching swarms of honey bees, or are just interested in how we do it - this video will give you some insight on swarm trapping, bait hives, and some great advice on how to catch those swarms. We share some of the tips and tricks that have allowed us to catch many, many honeybee swarms over the past few years.
We'll talk about swarm traps and what size swarm trap you should use. We'll also discuss how to bait a swarm trap, and what attractants and baits work best. How high up should you put your swarm traps and what direction should you point the entrance to your bait hive? We'll go over all these tips and more.
If interested, you can see a few photos on our new CZcams community tab. Please check it out and comment if you would like.
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Products Mentioned in video
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Swarm Commander - amzn.to/35MJ643
Swarm Trap dial entrance - amzn.to/37f3rPC
Mann Lake Swarm Lure - amzn.to/35KJAaV
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3 Step - Step Stool - amzn.to/3CDH4yT
Swarm Trap that uses frames - amzn.to/3i4KaCA
or you can make one DIY (we have other videos on our channel like this one):
• Our Best Flower Pot Sw...
Here are the Highlights (check out the video for more details)
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Top 10 Swarm Trap Tips
00:00 Introduction
0:10 10. Use the right size swarm trap and is weather-tight
1:04 9. Entrance to trap is 1 ½” to 2” square (as in space not shape)
1:42 8. Bait with Lemongrass Oil (or commercial attractant)
2:22 7. Put in a sturdy tree, post, or stand - 8 to 15 feet in height
3:20 6. Be sure the trap is securely attached, yet easy to take down
4:00 5. Face entrance South or Southeast
4:45 4. Used equipment greatly enhances chances (old bee boxes and comb)
5:40 3. Ensure trap is visible to bees, less so for people (don’t hide the trap in deep cover). Bees use landmarks!
5:58 2. Watch for bee resources like water, pollen, gardens, nectar plants, meadows, fields, and apiaries.
7:57 1. Success means future success. Catching a swarm in a location will likely mean future swarms in same place
Be Safe - Have Fun!
Over my 50 plus years of beekeeping I've caught numerous swarms both in traps and off trees, shrubs, etc. At 91 I'm still catching and still learning new techniques! Thanks!
That is awesome! Thank you for your comment... I really appreciate you taking the time to stop by. Isn't it amazing... every time I work with the bees I learn something new...
I need little help...
@vfungenix - Like what? Happy to answer any questions or try to point you in the right direction... 😀
@@TwoDovesBees I am from Kashmir...we have lot of bees everywhere but they aren't settling in my boxes ...Is there proven trick to trap or attract bees?
@@vfungenix - hello... it's a matter of getting the most things that you can do that attract bees set up and ready. Make sure you have the right sized space (bait hive/swarm trap), and a good attractant (we suggest lemongrass oil or swarm commander). If you have some bees wax (from actual bee hives), you can use that to coat the inside of the swarm trap (a very light coating by either melting the wax and paining the wax on or by just rubbing the inside of the box with the wax). If your swarm trap has frames, do the same for the frames (light coating of wax). Once you have that set up, it's a matter of patience and luck... If the swarm trap is in place for some time and you don't see any activity from bees - try a new location. Bees can be pretty particular when it comes to locations. Once you find where you can catch a swarm, you will more than likely catch more swarms in that same spot. Hope that helps!
Last year I lost two hives over winter. In May I caught a swarm and one month later I attracted a swarm to an empty hive with lemongrass. I was quite impressed!
Sorry you lost hives, but thrilled that you were able to catch swarms to replace them!
Hey John, Bry the Bee Guy here, in central PA(20 miles west of State College, PA) I am just now getting ready to catch some swarms, its May 6th. I caught my first swarm last year. The week after Mothers Day(it snowed on mothers day 2021) Caught another in my yard on the 4th of July. I use Layen's style hives and swarm traps (horizontal hives). The bees love it that I don't bother them too much when I check on them and not having to lift a 40-50lb supers is a major bonus! Your tips seem to be spot on. I love the success on success tip! Made me rethink where I am going to put my traps. Last year I strapped the trap on a 6 inch thick tree at shoulder level and had a swarm within 10 days! BTW, I HIGHLY recommend putting a trap out with frames that have starter strips! That hive cross combed 4 out of the 6 frames that were in it. I still haven't gotten those frames apart. It's their brood frames. I ended up getting nearly 20lbs of honey from that hive! Thanks for the good tips and nice job with the video editing! Thanks buddy
Hello Bryan… the weather has been a bit crazy (especially north and east) hasn’t it… We are deep into swarm season here in Texas. A day doesn’t go by without me getting some notifications of swarms around our area. My box traps are in the layens style (I use langstroth hives - so use those frames in my traps). Thanks for the tips! I like the idea of using starter strips - those swarms like to build quickly!!! I have a friend that pulled an owl box down that a swarm had moved into. He put the owl box into some hive bodies and meant to get to it the next day, but got busy and didn’t get back out to them soon enough… that owl box got encompassed in comb and last I heard - was still part of the colony… still surrounded by comb… The bees keep moving on and will do what they will do… Thank You so much for the comments- it means a lot!
Great video and great tips! The absolute best lure I have found is melted old comb. I save any comb I scrape off during my hive inspections as well as propolis. This all goes into a bucket with a lid. When I am ready to put out swarm traps, I put the old comb into an old crock pot add a little water and melt it down. I then scoop out the melted wax and pour it on some frames and along the insides of my swarm box. I have tried the commercial swarm lures with little or no success but once I started using this method I catch 20 or so swarms a year. Another tip is to get your boxes up early. I know it depends on your location but I try to have my boxes out by the end of February. Thanks
Thank You! 100% agree… I save wax and propolis. I save the propolis for tinctures and melt the wax in my DIY solar melter - and put it into Dixie Cups to make crayons that I use to coat frames and traps with.
We have a 80' maple tree just starting to bloom, and it's full of bees. We're going to put up a swarm trap tomorrow.
I have that same t-shirt. LOL
I totally agree that you do not have to put the swarm traps way up high. I use a 6' step ladder - and set the trap so that the entrance is at eye level.
Tip for baiting - if you render down your own bees wax (cappings from honey processing), if you squirt some Swarm Commander onto the wax while it's still liquid, you can use that wax to coat the foundation on your frames. This will last a LONG time.
That's a great tip!!! I remember seeing someone do that, but I'd forgotten. Thank You! I've seen people put their traps up quite high (unneeded if you ask me) - but it works for them. I like to keep things simple!!!
Had 30 traps out last year and caught 7 swarms. While almost all traps had activity by scouts, only 7 caught swarms. After taking down all traps, I found that ALL traps that did NOT catch swarms had one thing in common---each had a mouse nest in the trap! This year I will periodically check if mice have moved in. One other item, most traps that caught a swarm had two entrance holes--one low and one high.
That is interesting (about the entrance holes). I can see some benefit for that... and as long as you're prepared for when it's time to move the trap, it has a lot of upside potential! I hear you on the mouse house... Also need to watch for wasps.
That's the reason my traps have a 3/8" slot for an entrance instead of a hole!
@@WayneFalkner Deer mice can and will enter a 1/2 inch hole, so maybe 3/8 will keep them out.
I'm new at it , very excited to get started
Catching swarms of bees is pretty fun... I've been so far behind that I haven't gotten out all my traps. Good luck!!!
Thumbs up for the GOA hat.
it's getting a little crazy out there... Combat Comm veteran...
Thanks for the tips and love your hat!
Very cool! Wanted to give you a heads up, I work for a family owned nursery in California, Green Acres Nursery & Supply. Its a wonderful nursery and they are opening their first location in Texas soon. I host the Green Acres Garden Podcast and I am delighted that soon we will be making content that explores gardening and growing in Texas. So much to learn, happy gardening.
That's awesome!!! We visit the Bay Area frequently (our parents are out there and my wife was born there). Where at in Texas are you opening? We are in the DFW (just north east of Dallas) area and there are a few nurseries around, I'm always looking for new ones to visit.
Thank you. Very helpful.
Glad it was helpful! We tried to put our best tips together... they work for us and have been very successful at catching lots of swarms. If you catch some swarms, come back and let us know. 🐝😀
At first I would like to thank you for your valuable advice. My English is weak and I hope that I can communicate the idea because I use Google translator , I would like to add advice, which is to choose the appropriate time of the year, which is to set traps at the beginning of the spring directly, and if you delay a month, you may not get many swarms.
Thanks for sharing your ideas
Glad you like them!
John, great video. Your authenticity shone through! I am inspired to give it a try this year!
Thank You Gerry!!! That may be the nicest comment we've had. Go for it... it's relatively easy and fun to do.
I have not tried to trap bees yet, but I'm getting very interested. Thanks for the tips.
You should give it a try… you are very welcome! If you try and catch a swarm, can back and let us know.
Thanks John, I will be trying my hand at Trapping bees soon.
I kept bees 30 years ago and found 1 swarm on a branch, came back with a empty hive body , cut the branch , placed it in the box returned home and set up with frames and that hive gave me 180 lbs of honey that yr.
Best to you,K
Thanks so much from stopping by and leaving this comment... We really appreciate you! That's great!!! 180lbs is fantastic. It doesn't get much easier than collecting them off of a tree branch does it (unless that branch is 30+ feet in the air... LOL). Are you keeping bees anymore? It's quite a bit of work around here when it gets in the high heat of summer.
Awesome video very helpful. I appreciate you being on point.
Thank you so much… we really appreciate you coming by and commenting. I tried to keep it clear and yet informative.
Love the hat
Thanks.. Shot Show... :-)
Thanks for sharing experience.
Thank You... We love sharing what we know and hope that it helps others!
Thank you for the tips! I better hurry and build a trap!
Very welcome! I hope they help you catch lots of swarms!
Thank you so much! Great video
Thank You... We really like to share things that help people (especially when it comes to bees, beekeeping, and gardening).
Interesting and very helpful.
We tried pulling most of the best tips available together. We’ve used these to catch many, many swarms.
This will be my first season to try to trap a swarm. Thanks for the information. I have several made now at the beginning of Feb in zone 7a. Now all I have to do is pick a spot.
Good luck! Hopefully the info gets you going and you find lots of swarms (or they find your traps). 😀 Come back and let us know how it goes.... I need to get my traps ready - because spring is just around the corner now.
I'm in the Carolinas and I put up a swarm trap maybe three weeks ago. All I've seen is a moth buzzing around the trap. No honey bees. I have a plastic vial of Swarm Commander from Blythwood and a vial of aniseed oil. I've only see a few honey bees in my garden this season. Last season a swarm landed on my back deck!
When was the last time you opened the trap? I check mine weekly and, if safe to do so, give it a sniff to see if I can smell the bait. I wonder if it might be over-baited? Too strong a scent can be a negative. If you don’t get any luck at that location, you might have better luck moving the trap… it’s sort of like fishing. Good luck!!! 😀
@@TwoDovesBees Thanks, I like the fishing analogy. Good points!
Thanks for the tips. I’m in South Irving. Last night my husband and I made a swarm trap. Today I am going to set it up by a fallen tree in someone’s yard. This will be my 1st “removal”. Your tips will be very helpful and I hope to get the bees from the fallen tree somewhat easily. Thanks also to all the comments and additional tips.
Good luck! Most times, it a hive is in a location (even a downed tree), they will likely try to stay in that location. You may need to manually move the bees from the tree (cutting out any comb and banding it into empty frames) and then move the frames into your swarm trap.
great info
Thanks… we appreciate the feedback!
Thank you for this valuable information!
So glad you see the value. We really try to be helpful. 😀
@@TwoDovesBees I can't imagine ever having bees, but I collect knowledge as part of prepping. I will add in your info. When SHTF, it would be lovely to have honey! Thanks again ☺
Great video. Have not tried it but might in the future, thanks!
You should give it a shot. It's one of my favorite "bee activities".
Thanks
Very welcome!!! 😃
Got my first trap, thanks for all the info!
That’s great!!! Let us know when you catch your first swarm…. 😀
We have a saying between bee keepers : what is from the tree in the tree will go ! Not a fan of swarms. I consider controlled division is best 9:43 way to maintain a good apiary and genetics will be good as well. They won’t have tendency to swarm. In past 20 years o don’t think I have 10 swarms for 400+ hives. Is about genetics or holding them and control
I hear you… swarms can be a great unknown. It’s not really too difficult to catch them… “keeping” them is a different story. I’ve seen swarms from brand new colonies that included a marked queen. I’ve also seen swarms that turned into nightmares as they grew into a full sized colony… Learning how to properly keep bees will reduce the number of swarms a beekeeper might lose. Having known genetics is a great idea…. 😀
If you use chemicals to control Varroa, I recommend placing whatever you use in all newly caught swarms as soon as possible. Most chemicals kill only the mites on the bees and not those in the capped cells. Your freshly captured swarm has no brood so any mites they have will be exposed to your chemical. I use Apivar. I do not use formic or oxalic as it might cause the new swarm to abscond.
I have had better luck if the swarm trap has open space inside. I use one deep and one medium with 3 frames with old comb together to one side, one above the other. You MUST keep an eye on them in this configuration and get frames inside within a day or so of the swarm moving in to prevent (as John mentioned) a real mess of random size and shape combs. One can use open frames with starter strips to fill the open space, but I have found (for me) bees actually prefer the space to be completely open. BUT if you can’t get back to the trap within a day of capturing a swarm, then DO use frames with starter strips. I use old equipment with knot holes and corners missing but for me, they actually prefer to move in an opening in a surface. My best trap hive has ¼ inch opening, halfway across the front of the box, where the thin part left from the frame shelf was broken out. It is in the deep and I place the medium over the deep so that the opening is in a flat surface.
We all do it different and I am always looking for tips to improve my success, like those provided by John. Thanks John!
Thanks You Bob... It's great to see more info on how others work with the bees. Definitely a great time to treat bees with no brood (it gives them a great start with no varroa). Really appreciate you coming and sharing with us!
Great video.
Thank you soo much! We try to give good and fun info so that hat if anyone wanted to try to catch a bee swarm, they have the best info available,
شكرا لك على هذا الموضوع المفيد 🐝🐝
شكرًا لك. أنا أقدر تعليقك
I'm planning on getting 3 swarn traps out this Sat or Sunday (April 10, 2022). That way scouts can find them if they need them. Still a ways away from flowers and pollen, but I hope to be ahead of the bees. Bob in SW MT.
That's great!!! I try to put mine out early as well. Definitely doesn't hurt to have them out sooner than later... 😀
Well 4/10 came and went, but 4/20 was more appropriate to get them out. It was a good day to get into the countryside. 5 /6 today. Still unsettled weather, but dandelions are just starting to bloom. Maybe there will be a swarm or two in a week or two. I should go refresh the bait sents on Saturday. Weather is turning crappy again but we need rain here in drought stricken SW MT.
This was an amazing video and really enjoyed the tips.
Thanks… that was a fun one to put together. 😀. We’ve caught so many swarms now, I’ve lost count. I love that it’s almost like fishing.
Keep up the good work.
Thank you… we try.
thx for tips sir !
You are very welcome! Thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment. Hope the tips help you catch lots of bees.
@@TwoDovesBees today i made my first handmade hive, tomorrow i will set lure following your video hope i will get something ! awesome content btw sir !
Excellent video!!! New to bees and looking to put traps out this year
That’s great!!! I hope the swarm trap tips really help you out… if you catch a swarm (or two), be sure to come back and let us know. Good luck!!!
Great video. I was lucky last year and caught 20 swarms with the last 1 being Oct 27 small swarm but i got them through the winter and they are doing great. I use swarm commander and propolis it the bait box.❤🐝
Thanks... It can be tricky to get those late season swarms through winter. Great Job!
Awesome video! Subbed!
Thank You… I’ve been away from my bees for a bit and can’t wait to see how they are doing… Planning on some new videos fairly soon and we hope you’ll enjoy them.
I have a swarm trap out, but our weather has gone from 80 and beautiful sun to rain with lows of 29. I am practicing patience. LOL🐝
That's great! It doesn't hurt to have the swarm traps out now... We've noticed a correlation between swarmming activity and the change in weather. We noticed that swarms seem to wait until right before or right after changes in the weather (like right before or right after spring storms as they roll through). We hope you find success and catch all the swarms you want. 🐝😀
Nice video bro thanks
Thanks!!! I appreciate the feedback. Hope it helps.
Hi there.
Here in Scotland 🏴 they just "Flew into the Yard" hung out on the (Oops : forgot to take down '2022' Summer Shade Cover.) Metal x4 Legged Awning Frame with long Cross Rails. allowed them to 'rest' then go over to make their Home in a Langstroth Hive (earlier Deadout) and went right in ! Simples.... Guess it was a fly and a crawl of say x8 Feet or so from gathering in a Cluster to Homing themselves
Awesome sight to see. . . 😄
Summer Shade Cloth got stored, Frame Structure stayed out in all weathers (!) Birds in Winter feed of it from Seed & Fat Balls hung on it. Multi-tasking Rails, for the Bees and the Birds.
Or maybe a very a lazy Gardener ! Whose a bit better at being a Hobbyist Beek. 😎
Your right 'Lemon Grass Oil' and 'old Dark Brood' Frames really act as a "Swarm" Magnet.
The former 'lured' them into my Garden (Scent wise.) And the latter was available (Found) and utilised all by themselves. Clever Bees.
Beekeeping at its best. 😎
That’s great!!! Welcome!!! Thanks for visiting and leaving the comment. I love hearing stories from all over the world. Sounds like you rolled out the welcome mat and the bees found it. 😀
Let's hope they do their sweet trick again this coming Bee Season. Swarm in Yes Please !
This Beek has got Cottage Fever. 🤭 It's been super Cold 🥶 and now they say a kinda baby Hurricane🌀is coming. . .
What's happening to our Weather. Its Scotland 🏴, not the Deep Mid West. . . 😄
Us Brits like to 'grand' things up a bit : a strong Storm that is called 'Isha' due tonight and tomorrow : could Cut Power, take down Trees do Structure Damage. . . That's a Breeze in down Town USA. 😏
All Hives have extra Bricks, Logs, Buckets, even Compost on them. . . Belts and Braces (Suspenders) . . . Mind you 'suspenders' here hold up lacey stockings on Dames of the Night. 🤭
Languages is similar but so so different on either side of the Pond ! Bees have 'Stingers' not 'Hookers' . . . I'll let myself out. . . 🤣
'
Great video
Thank You!!! I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Nice Numbering ! Clever.
"3" Only applies to UK, EU, USA, basically Northern Hemisphere !
In Asia, Australia, New Zealand, its the opposite. 😎
(Southern Hemisphere, North is the Hottest...)
Thanks for the reminder and the correction for our “southern” friends!!! Really appreciate you!
Very nice information vedeo sir 👍
Thank You! We try to give out good information that others can use and learn from! 🐝😀
Completely agree swarm traps are amazing… I captured 4 swarm last year.. first year beekeeping.. had two successful overwinter.. have 3 swarm trap out already like you said if you find a great location stick with it.. I order my first two nucs this year.. crazy how additive this is.
That is awesome! Great Job!!!
Im addicted too i think,comeback from work and go there to find excuse to do something around my bees
Made my first horizontal Lang and cant wait to start 2 nd
Crazy
If you know how to search for bees I specifically mean how to find a wild hive, find that hive and try to place your trap within 500 feet of that wild hive. They will swarm and it is a good place to have a trap. Or if you can get close to commercial operation they lose a lot of swarms.
I have caught 2 swarms right out of my shed. Just put my deep frame box on top of the table saw and wholla free bees.
Oh and beekeeping is madly addictive to some of us.
It's like crawling (and flying)crack cocaine.
Never set in full sun....good video buddy!
Thanks @Baddest Bees! That's a good one to add...
Great information thanks for sharing. Just came across your channel and subscribed to it. I am a Beekeeper here in West Virginia.
Hello Mark… thanks for the note. West Virginia is pretty country. I have some relatives out in those parts (not exactly sure what town though). 😀
Very nice work
Thank You... We try to give good information that help people out...
Did you look at my videos yet?
Yes... I have... It's interesting to see the various types of swarm traps you are using. Do you have any videos where you show taking the bees out of the traps and putting them into hives? I have thought of using buckets as traps, but haven't really explored that yet. We did make a trap out of a pastry bucket one time... I've done a little investigation to measure some larger buckets to see if I could fit frames into the buckets - but haven't done that yet.
I made several Japanese pile hives at home. I placed three of these in a dilapidated house where bees nested permanently. One of my boxes attracted a huge swarm of Apis Cerana Indica. I had to place two empty boxes beneath the top box as the bees had built combs well below the top one. I used old combs of the same bees under the top cover. I might have to add the fourth box underneath in a few days.
Also, I must secure the pile from accidental toppling.
Today evening I am going to collect a swarm from a discarded wooden box fro the neighbourhood.
In a few days I will be trapping several swarms that have sought a boarding school for summer nesting.
Yes, I use old combs, dabs of propolis, honey, wax, and pollen, as well as lemon grass oil and even smearing extract of cannabis or Marijuana leaves. It works.
That’s great! Sounds like you have your hands full…
Being from Texas I’m fresh out of marijuana.☹️😜
I found that removing the frame from the entrance hole works. Notice that trees, buildings or other structures bees love the holes.
Thanks for sharing your observation. Definitely do not want any obstructions to hinder the swarm from entering the swarm trap. 👍
One of the best videos I’ve seen. Great info! I’m trying to build a swarm trap now. Do you have any videos that shows your trap in more detail ?
Thank You Ric!!! Yes, there are a couple of videos on the channel that show how we put them together and another with more detail on the template that we created to hold frames inside the flowerpots. If interested, send me an email at John@twodoves.com and I can send a pdf with specific details on the templates we use.
Ric Denali, keep in mind whatever style you decide to build -- Langstroth frames or Layens frames, the box inside dimentions should total somewhere in the neighborhood of 40 to 45 liters volume. Bees prefer this volume. Measure in centimeters -- width X depth X distance from front to back. Then divide this number by 1000. That is the volume in liters. It took me a while to figure out that 1000 cubic centimeters are 1 liter. Hope this helps with your swarm box plans and construction. Also, make the bottom of the box about 5 or 6 centimeters below the bottom of the frames as they hang. Bob
If you have a 'spot' which catches swarms, always keep at least TWO boxes there.
Last year I got into catching swarms with traps...I love it!
It's so much fun!
Definitely!!! Great Tip!!! There is one tree where I've caught at least 30 swarms over the past few years.
@@TwoDovesBees That is SoooOOoo amazing.
I live in Austin Texas and last year we got a Blizzard (well, close, for here, it was a Blizzard...we NEVER get prolonged cold) and it killed most of my bees.
I think asked a friend if she wanted to use my boxes for traps.
Since then...never looked back. We both love it so much!
It's just as you described!
One other tip is to ONLY keep boxes where you've caught them.... Don't catch one for a year or two...move it to where you find another hot spot! I've been told that's how the pros do it.
I remember the "big freeze"... I'm just a little north and east of Dallas...
@@TwoDovesBees Even as bad as it was (I was So super bummed), putting out a bunch of traps and catching swarms and making splits got me right back up to strength in short order!
I have never caught a swarm or held bees, but I see one trap here in a tree from time to time. At first I assumed it was a big birdhouse, but most people don't place and remove birdhouses so I had to take a look!
Maybe I'll try and put a trap up myself and if I catch some... time to order some equipment!
You should definitely give it a shot... You might be surprised and catch a great swarm of bees!!!
I caught a swarm in accidentally in an empty hive. Bees didn’t winter well and both my hives were dead in the spring. I didn’t bother to get more bees but decided to take a break from it. Middle of June I saw bees going in and out and had to add an extra box. That hive was 18” at best off the ground.
I've seen that situation happen many times... I've seen swarms move into old boxes several times. It's interesting to note that many times that swarms will come into an existing bee yard to find a new home...
Love from India
Thank you!
I have catch swarm 4 times in same location 😊
Isn't nice to find a location where you can get multiple swarms? I have one tree that has given me 40+ swarms in 5 years...
One swarm trap out last year with 0 success> Did 4 cut outs in 22. I now have 4 swarm traps out Will be putting out at least 4 more by march 1/ 23 Picked up a barbeque full of bees will cut them out early march or before. Was late last year-- but I am early this year. We are now froze out tell at least Friday. Good vid.
Sounds like you had a few bees to collect... We often see them in Owl houses and water meter boxes around here. Good luck with the swarm trapping! Once you find a place where you catch some bees, you'll likely be catching them from that same location multiple times (at least that seems to be the way it goes for me... All the places I put out swarm traps have all caught multiple swarms over the years (most of my traps catch bees every year).
@@TwoDovesBees what state you from. I am from Texas.
I did two out of houses and one water meter and one out of a tree witch I euthanized , they had killed the 60lb dog after stinging the home owner multiple times.
sorry I forgot your from north TX.
@@dennisbarney869 - Yep... North Texas... I hear you. We run across those "spicy" bees from time-to-time. I've decided that for me, I re-queen every swarm I capture the following spring. I want to make sure I know the genetics... I've had too many that have the tendency to blowup. I keep a close eye on the swarms I keep (and or sell). I could tell you stories for sure... 😀
Thank you Sir we are hoping to be beekeepers this coming up spring 24 but for now new support here BIG like and we will continue to watch your videos,,, Greetings from Paducah Ky 😁
Thank you sooo much... Welcome!!! 😀 That's one of the things about beekeeping... you really want to start in winter. You either want to order bees (nucs or packages) which will normally be ready in the May time frame... OR... you can start putting swarm traps together and get ready to catch bee swarms which start showing up when the weather starts to get warm. Beekeeping is fun and so educational... I learn something new every time I work with the bees.
I currently have. Three traps out first week. Of March 24
I’ve still got to get a few out… that’s on tap for this weekend.
Hello! Thank you for this great swarm trap video! Looking forward to trying this out this upcoming season. May I as what microphone you're using in this video? It sounds very impressive!
Thanks... We tried to pull the best tips together for catching swarms and share them... The microphone is actually a set of two... One acts as the mic and the other a receiver. It's the Sabinetek Smartmike+
There are a couple of advantages to the Smartmike+ in that I can use them as I did in this video (mic + receiver) and I can also use them individually if I have to record myself and another person at the same time. There are some limitations with it as well. It has a good range for the wireless mic, but if I get too far and then turn away from the receiver, it will occasionally garble the recording.... but since I know about that, I keep that in mind when recording.
I live at the bottom of Africa in Cape Town, and I live in the middle of the city. I put up a 20l bucket with some beeswax about a month ago at the window of my flat, seven floors up. I'm still waiting for bees to find it. I will try lemon grass oil in a week or two and see if that will improve my chances. Thanks for the video, I enjoyed the tips.
Thanks for your comment! I hope you find some luck soon. 😀
You may catch a Helicopter up there ... not a swarm.
Lol... but who knows...
Give us a feedback if you do catch them.
Good LUCK .
Going to try traps next spring
Last year had 3 swarms got them all but sound much easier and less stressful for bees by using swarm trap
I keep some of my swarm traps up year round. For us, right now is the busy swarm season! 🥹
@@TwoDovesBees
Im in Australia so its october probably but i was wondering would that trap attract bees which are not swarming?
I dont want to confuse my bees
I don’t think a trap will entice a colony to swarm. I keep them up for insurance… Colonies will swarm for a variety of reasons though.
I’ve caught 8 swarms this year so far. It is a lot of fun.
That’s FANTASTIC! Great job… I agree - catching the swarms is one of my favorite things in beekeeping. 😊
8??? Wow!! That must mean you're real lucky, or you definitely know what you're doing!
Going into my 3rd year looking to catch my 1st swarm this year!
Hopefully the information helps… catching swarms can be addicting! Good luck!!! If you catch a swarm be sure to come back and let us know. 😀
Thanks for the info..I just set out my 2 traps and following your advise..Last year I put up my trap before lunch went in for lunch...when I came out there was maybe 10 scout bees going in and out and within 2 hours the trap was covered in bees...I used a 5 frame box ....hopefully I will be lucky again and this time I will try the lemongrass like you said and maybe get lucky again ...
Saya senang melihatnya, bisa menjadi pengetahuan buat kami, semoga bermanfaat dan sukses selalu paman. Salam dari kami. 🇮🇩
Terima kasih telah mengunjungi dan menonton video.
No haven’t done a swarm trap before.
As a new beekeeper I did successfully remove a swarm from a water meter.
They are doing well and we are now going into winter. I have to do one more hive inspection and varroa mite test before it gets too cold
Thanks for the information it will be something I’ll look into while it’s winter
That’s great! You should give swarm trapping a try. We’re just coming into our warmer season and the swarms are happening every day now. I was outside and actually saw a small swarm fly over my garden yesterday afternoon…
First year swarm for me
I found your video very educational and will be preparing to put up three swarm boxes in our property
always wanted to raise bees, just learned about swarm traps. trying to learn all I can since there's so many bees come around
There are many types of swarm traps... You should give beekeeping a try. Hopefully the tips we've given here can help. 😀
@@TwoDovesBees I plan on building a swarm trap, but confused about the frames that go in the swarm box. do bulild the swarm box to fit the frames from the hive box?
@@hillbilyjed1318 - yes... you should use standard sized frames. I use deep frames because they fit into my normal bee boxes (10 frame deep langstroth bee hives). If you use a different size - just make the frames match your equipment.
@@TwoDovesBees thank you. now I have more of an idea on how to get started.
Step 1: Set up a bee hive (4-5 stack Japanese Box hive is simplest). 2: Cut a 1 1/2 to 2" hole in one side about half way up and squirt some lemon grass oil inside. 3: Wait. 4: Once swarm has entered and bees are setting up house, close the hole with a piece of plywood and a screw. 5. Bees will now solely start using the entrance............If you build it, they will come.......Simple.....And this works best when the weather is warm and sunny....late spring, early summer......could also happen in late summer.........Z
That’s definitely a decent way to try and catch a swarm of bees. I’ve caught a few in my own yard. Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
I set up a 10 frame deep. I use old boxes. I try to put at least 2 frames of old comb in the box. My other frames I leave without foundation and I use a 1 inch beeswax starter strip across the top of the frame.
I then put 9 or 10 dops of lemongrass oil on the wood inside of the hive and a drop or two at the entrance.
I place the trap IN THE SHADE. And I never put my traps up in the air. I have caught dozens 3 ft off the ground.
I will never again drop a full hive of bees from 12 feet off the ground.😱😱😱.
After that I set up a half gallon mason jar or maybe 2 with sugar syrup and place them about 30 feet away from my swarm trap. It draws in bees from miles away and in no time you have scout bees on your trap.
Sounds like you’ve got your system working… thanks for sharing and adding to the tips…
I don't ever put my swarm traps off the ground that far. 3 feet is good enough. I also put a large jar of sugar water right in front of of my swarm trap. I try to attract as many bees to the location of my trap as is humanly possible.
Thanks for the note Joey! I hear you… when I first started swarm trapping, I saw a lot of videos and info talking about needing to put the swarm traps up high… my first trap was probably 14’ up a tree… it worked, but I’ve had much better results keeping the traps at a much more manageable height… easier for me makes it easier on the bees as well.
This coming spring will be my first attempt. I'm making 6 traps and I should be able to put them in about a 20 mile line. I'm thinking I my need a few more but I'm just starting out
That sounds pretty cool. I've found that once I catch a swarm of bees - If I put up a swarm trap, when I take the one that caught bees down - I have a pretty good shot at catching another swarm in that exact same location. If you find that you catch multiple swarms from one particular location - You can put up more than one swarm trap and potentially catch more than one swarm from there at the same time. Good Luck!!!
Ever try a hempcrete hive?
We personally have not tried anything from hempcrete. It does sound interest and we love sustainable products. I'd have to do some research or find one to try. I'd be curious about the thermo properties of such a hive given our extremely hot (and occasionally cold) weather here in Texas.
IM STUDYING HONEYBEES SO I CAN RAISE MY OWN ON MY HORSE RANCH NEAR MY GIANT VEGETABLES I GROW.THANKS A MILLION.
That's great!!! So happy to be able to share info and help people out... Good luck!!!
Any tips for incouraging a new swarm to leave the wall of my home, and go into a trap?
So sorry to hear that you are have an issue with the bees… they can be problematic in that type of situation…. Unfortunately, once bees are established, it takes some technique to remove them. I’d suggest contacting a bee remover (usually a beekeeper that specializes in bee removals). Bonus if they can do “live” removals vs. killing the bees and then scraping out the dead bees and everything that goes with them…. Extermination is not a great idea without removal… killing the bees without dealing with all their honeycomb, honey, pollen, larva, etc will lead to a host of other pests that will come in and make an even bigger mess…
How often should someone “re-bait” a swarm trap once it’s put out? I haven’t been able to find any info on this. TIA!( I should have probably waited to ask this , but I’m not very patient)
I usually check my swarm traps about once a week... if not "occupied", I try to get a whiff and see if I can smell the attractant (both lemongrass oil and swarm commander have a fairly strong scent). If I can smell it, then I leave it alone. If I'm not sure and it's not occupied, I'll give a little extra near the entrance. If nothing after a couple of weeks, I open the whole thing up and rebait - which will also allow you to check inside... wasps might have taken up residence... bees won't typically move in with wasps present. If wasps (or anything else) has moved in, just remove them and rebait.
@@TwoDovesBees thank you. I found out about wasp the hard way.🤬🤬
I paint propolis in the corners of the swarm trap and I also throw a few dead bees in the bottom
Those are great suggestions... I collect quite a bit of propolis. Do you melt it down? Do you melt it the same as wax?
@@TwoDovesBees no I don’t melt the propolis. I put it in alcohol and let the alcohol keep the propolis in a liquid state. After I shake up the emulsion I paint the corners then the alcohol goes away leaving the propolis. You have to do this about a month in advance to allow the alcohol smell to go away.
at 5:44 on your video what is that with the windows? Is that some kind of bee hive on wheels?
I had to go look…. 😀 that is our chicken coop…
Just rescued a swarm yesterday (received a call to rescue one) never used a swarm trap but am now I am wanting to put one up. Wondering about the easiest way to build one or a recommendation to purchase one. Not too handy but somewhat capable if easy. Would love advise. Lost our hive this winter due to high wind gusts which blew top off then rain. Was so very bummed - I should have thought to make the hive more secure - won't happen again. Hoping and praying this hive we rescued yesterday settles down in to the hive we put it in this morning. Have another empty hive would love to fill up.
Hello... Thanks for stopping by... So sorry to hear about your hive. We also can get high winds here. I use ratchet straps or cinder blocks to secure my hives (mostly straps). You have a good chance to keep them. Just as an FYI, you might want to check out the YT live that we recently did - it has some great tips on both catching and KEEPING swarms... It's here - czcams.com/users/liveyI1W-K687lU?feature=share
As for a swarm trap... There are lots of options... You might have something you can use already. A deep hive body can work well. You might also be able to use a 5 frame nuc (although the size is a bit small for swarm trapping but could be used fairly easily). There are ways to use 5 gallon buckets or potentially an old cooler. My most successful swarm traps have been taping and screwing 2 large flower pots together (lots of videos here on the channel talking about them). If you want to purchase something that is purpose built for a swarm trap - There is the Interceptor Swarm traps available on Amazon. VERY easy to use and set up (they include almost everything you need. You can find them here - amzn.to/40Y1XzM
Hope that helps.
Hi, I used a dip 5 frames and a medium size on top of, so I have 5 fr. Dip and 5 medium frame on top.
That's great! The amount of volume is an important tip. It is interesting that swarms really have a mind of their own and what looks good to one swarm, is completely rejected by others.
I wander if I am doing correctly , having two boxes it's more easy to take off one if it's necessary and also the Bee can accumulat more honey , the problem I have i build my own bait boxes 1/2 inches play wood and I have water on inside it happens because I don't paint the box and the water leak in or the lid shrink band I put screw but not help, i am thinking to use 3/4 inches play wood for lid only? Your advice, I live in Oregon so we have lots of rain in this time of the year. Thank you.
I typically put a water sealer on the outside of the boxes (even my flowerpot swarm traps). I also make sure that the tops (lids) cover the entire box. Having a watertight trap is pretty important. I think putting something like Thompsons water seal over the boxes would work pretty well (depends on your swarm trap design).
If we're talking about normal bee hives, I would also make sure to make sure to use some type of weather protection. I have used a natural stain that includes a water repellent on some of my boxes. You could also make sure that there is a way for water to escape (either through the bottom or the front) and tilt the boxes towards that water hole.
When do you typically stop trying catch a swarm for the year?
Hmmm…. Interesting question… I often leave swarm traps out all year. I usually stop baiting them after July 4th. I figure that even though the bees may have a difficult time making it through winter, I can give them a better chance at surviving. It really depends on your climate though. Where we are, it’s not uncommon to be able to overwinter a nuc (we’re in North Texas).
@@TwoDovesBees I'm in Ohio. It gets rather cold in the winter. If I caught a swarm now I'm kinda afraid that they wouldn't be able to grow fast enough
@@JosephAdams-lk5hy - probably late in the season for your area… There are some advanced ways to keep late swarms through winter - like double screened boards, but it’s a lot of work and may not turn out favorably.
I have a hive since about some years ago,d bee will hide inside d fence dat surround d hive ,wat can I do
We have a swarm in a cypress stump, but we only have brand new equipment. 8 panel brood box with excluder & honey super. If we put some beeswax & lemongrass oil inside the bottom box & place it near the stump do you think that will work?
Generally speaking, once a colony of bees has decided where their home is, they won’t move on their own. If they’ve been in the stump for a while, you’ll likely have to force them to move using some specialized techniques (honeybee gone) or by physically moving them.
Now, if the colony grows larger than the stump can hold, you may be able to catch swarms that may come from the stump.
I hope that makes sense and is helpful.
Just starting out and yes this was a very good video much help
Thanks for stopping by… if you catch a swarm, come back and let us know. 🐝😀
How far from my apiary would be best to catch swarms from them?
I keep a swarm trap within about 200' of my hives... Alternatively, a Russian scion could be something to put up on the outskirts of your apiary. I've lost very few swarms from my bee yard (I have lost a couple). Most of the time, the bees find that swarm trap and that's where they go (if I miss the swarm happening or the signs of swarming in the hive). It's a bit interesting in that some beeks don't like the note that I threw into the video about putting swarm traps near bee yards... Truthfully, I'd rather have someone catch swarms - even if they are from my hives - than to see the bees end up in someone's house or in a place where the bees might get sprayed or exterminated... Much better to have someone interested in bees and beekeeping (and that goes through the trouble of setting up a swarm trap) catch the bees and give them a new home. I see a couple of swarm traps (not mine) when I drive down the roads near my house and bee yard. They're probably about 1.5 miles from my bee yard.
I just discovered a bee swarm in my back yard. It was not there when I left for work this morning. What should I do with it? Tyvm!
There’s several things that can be done… I’d be happy to give some suggestions. It would be easier via email. Take a photo and send it in email to john@twodoves.com
@@TwoDovesBees they flew away already. I was going to try to get a hive and suit so I can keep then as pets. I will email you the videos later for future reference use. TYVM!
I live in UK and i have found a great area for honey bees however the UK native honey bee colonies have completely diminished so the chances of finding a swarm is low however many domesticated bees have become ferrel and live in the wild, so in my area where i put my swarm trap is a giant meadow full of butter cups and a stream flowing close to it and its on a oak tree however no luck please guid me on what to do
One of the big things is location - make sure the traps are set on a tree line near the field. Bait the traps with minimal attractant (too much can actually deter the bees). The bees have an excellent sense of smell and too much will push them away (kinda like going on a date with someone who has too much perfume or cologne). Make sure your trap has enough space (about the same size as a 10 frame deep or a 5 frame layens hive body). Make sure the swarm trap is shaded and not in direct sun... If you don't find success, maybe look at a different location - even just 50 to 100' can make a difference. I hope that helps!
Do you burn your swarm boxes with flame inside, I do.
On new, bare, wood ones, I have done that... On our flowerpot swarm traps, no (they would more of a fire starter). The biggest thing is that we rub the inside down with old beeswax and propolis.
I am new to bee traping and keeping . Why face the bee trap south .
It has to do with sunlight and the predominant wind direction. The bees prefer that direction. It’s not critical, but the more reasons we can give them to find our traps and move in, the better. Also note that this is for the northern hemisphere…
Question if I have an extra ten frame hive could I just use it to catch a swarm? Or is that too big?
Hello... Actually, a 10 frame deep is the perfect size... Many people catch a swarm simply by setting up an extra hive and baiting it appropriately. Most swarm traps try to mimic the same size as a 10 frame deep, but in a different form factor. For example, my flowerpot swarm traps have about the same volume (in space) as a 10 frame deep, but it's easier for me to hang in a tree or on a post.
@@TwoDovesBees Does it matter as far as higher is better? Could I just place the hive in the middle of my friend’s flower garden?
@@francesscherz8720 - higher is better, but I only use a 3 step step stool to put up my traps…
I am just starting swarm trapping. But not new to bee keeping. I live in southern Missouri. About what time in the spring would you put them out? Also I have permission from one beekeeper to capture any swarms that may come from his hives. How close or far should I be from his hives?? Thank you!
When to put the traps out for this year… now… we are putting them out or already have… bees usually swarm out to a location that is close to the hives (within a few hundred feet - 1/4 mile) before they find another location. Most swarms that I’ve seen stop for a temporary gathering within 100 feet… and sometimes stay they for just a few minutes up to a couple of days.
And what are “mist swarms”?
@@windsock3 sorry... typo... iphone auto-correct strikes again.. (fixed above) - "most swarms"
@@windsock3 - We are in North Texas (just north of Dallas)
If I have a trap in my yard, am I at risk of attracting my own bees even if they aren't thinking of swarming?
Hello Kristen… it is very unlikely that an existing bee colony would move from their current hive to a trap - given that there are no issues with their hive. If there are issues with their current home, and they were to abscond, it is possible that they would find your trap and use it… which would be a good thing.
I always encourage beekeepers to put up a swarm trap in their bee yards… better to catch your own bees than to lose them.
It is not uncommon for swarms to go to an existing bee yard. Having a swarm trap in your yard is like having an insurance policy… it’s sometimes easy to miss signs that a colony is going to swarm.
Go to try this spring lost 2 hives to yellow jackets down to 2 hives not sure they will make it. Im in va
Definitely!!! Give it a shot. If you do, come back and let us know how it goes!
@@TwoDovesBees ty i will try
How do I avoid attracting and catching the bees I already have into a swarm trap? I have 5 acres of land.
Ok... assumption here... I'm thinking you are asking this in that you are already keeping bees and you want to make sure you aren't trying to attract your existing bees in your swarm trap. If this is the case, it's a matter of managing your existing bees and bee colonies in a manner that keeps your bees home. Bees want to grow their colonies and expand and propagate. That's just nature... There are things we can do to help keep their numbers (inside managed hives) in check. Giving them enough space so that they don't fee the need to swarm is one of the big ones... During spring, the number of bees in a colony can grow very rapidly and if we as beekeepers don't stay on top of the space that the colony has, they may grow to a point where they will swarm. On the other side is to make sure the bees have what they need and to keep bee pests in check (hive beetles being a big factor). We want to make sure that their hives are maintained and free of pests so that they don't fee the need to abscond (leave their existing home to find a new one). These notes are fairly broad and may be oversimplified...
I will say that I keep swarm traps in my bee yards just in case I miss something in my beehives. I'd rather catch my own bees than to have them leave and find a new home that is beyond my control. I figure that even if I catch my own bees, it's a win-win... I now get an extra bee colony (a split the hard way) vs. splitting my hive in a controlled manner.
I hope this helps.
Any certain specie of tree to hang swarm trap
Hello Wayne… no… I only pick trees that have a good, strong low branch… it doesn’t matter what kind of tree it is..
Hey John this is Joe out of Dallas Texas about two years ago my father-in-law passed away and we inherited his ranch my wife and I and I’ve been watching CZcams videos and I ran across a video that says we are in the red I don’t really know what that means but basically what the guy said on the video anytime we have reached the color red in bees that means we are in the process of them becoming extinct so the more people that can get involved in raising bees would be the best thing we can do to save our planet because it would protect our food. So I’m going to be a new bee keeper this year so I’m trying to beat some swan catchers because bees are expensive around North Dallas they’re like $250 for a good set which that’s about 3 pounds of bees and the package it comes with a maid it queen so if you can tell me any good advice I need to do please let me know ASAP I’m 58 years old and I’m on permanent disability so I have plenty of time to attend to them. The biggest issue I’m having is finding the beehives I can’t believe how expensive they are they are simple to make and I can make them but right now I don’t have time to make them do you think I should start right away or wait till next year give me your opinion on that, and also are you by Dallas Texas or are you in another state if I’m asking some personal questions you don’t have to answer them but I sure would like a coach or a mentor I can follow because I’ve tried 628 rooster dirty rooster egg and I tried the other guy JP from Louisiana and I’ll talk to nobody so far I’ve sent several messages to all these people and I guess they don’t want to help nobody because I get no response from them so that’s why I’m reaching out to anybody that will kind of help me along.
Before I forget I’m needing beeswax it seems everybody you’re sold out or you have to wait days and days before you can get it I don’t mind buying some from you I just need to bait my swarm traps because they said if you have honey or some beeswax it would be great you have a better success rate but you know what I can sit here and talk for hours I will not bother you no more I’ll be waiting for your response and by the way God bless you sir and I pray to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to give you lots of love peace and prosperity and success for your family and Friends ✝️✝️✝️🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
We are just north of Dallas, Texas (Wylie). I'm also 58 (at least on the outside...). One of the best things I can point you to is to see if you can attend one of the local bee clubs. I know there is one in McKinney (Collin County Beekeepers Ass. -it's a fairly good sized club) and there is another in Gainesville (Elm Fork Beekeepers Association) and another in Sherman. Most of the bee clubs have beekeeping classes and several offer mentorships. It's a little behind the curve to actually buy bees (but as you note, the prices have gone a bit crazy). It's not hard to catch a swarm of bees (although there is a bit of luck involved) and I think its a great way to get bees.
One other thing that may be a great resource are the Facebook groups (Dallas Area Beekeepers is one) and posting on there you may find that there are some beeks that are closer to you than you might think.
I'm thinking of starting a monthly "bee chat" virtual meeting. Just sitting and sharing about bees. Shoot me an email at john@twodoves.com if you might be interested in something like that. It would be a chance to hear some things about bees and beekeeping and a chance to ask questions. Just informal and laid back.
@@TwoDovesBees that sounds great JOHN thank you for all the advice I will check out some of these groups close to Collin county and also if you have a chat group on CZcams because I’m not a member of Facebook it’s a long story but I’m never doing Facebook sorry to say but CZcams has something like it also please let me know when you might start I like to be one of the first ones there thank you so very much God bless you once again great advice you gave me makes me feel more comfortable and like you said I’m only 58 but inside I’m still turning 30 LOL ha ha Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ✝️✝️✝️🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
@@TwoDovesBees There is also a new club in Greenville (Hunt County Beekeepers). I grew up in Greenville... 😀
Thanks... I know about that club (haven't visited yet), but I was trying to give @Love of Christ a few references a bit closer to them. There's also Metro Beekeepers in Fort Worth and Trinity Valley Beekeepers Assoc. in Dallas (I was a director and VP there for a number of years). 😀