Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: SlickMick on March 25, 2009, 06:21:08 am

Title: Lemon grass oil
Post by: SlickMick on March 25, 2009, 06:21:08 am: Does anyone know if lemon grass vegetation can be used in swarm traps instead of the oil?
Title: Re: Lemon grass oil
Post by: Robo on March 25, 2009, 09:27:52 am: I would venture to say no. I don't believe there is a high enough concentration in the vegetation.
Title: Re: Lemon grass oil
Post by: JP on March 25, 2009, 09:38:24 am: Quote from: Robo on March 25, 2009, 09:27:52 am
I would venture to say no. I don't believe there is a high enough concentration in the vegetation.

I have never tried it in an experiment. I also think it would not be concentrated enough to duplicate the effect.

...JP
Title: Re: Lemon grass oil
Post by: Brian D. Bray on March 26, 2009, 02:43:23 am: Quote from: Robo on March 25, 2009, 09:27:52 am
I would venture to say no. I don't believe there is a high enough concentration in the vegetation.

The dried stuff won't work as the much of the oils plus water is dehyrated out of it. Fresh might work but it would be weak and of short duration.
Title: Re: Lemon grass oil
Post by: SlickMick on March 26, 2009, 04:15:11 am: Oh well it was a thought :-D

Miick
Title: Re: Lemon grass oil
Post by: eri on March 26, 2009, 10:37:16 am: You could extract it yourself -- instructions are on the Internet -- but sounds like a lot of work.

I did read about a person who dabbed some on the string supports for her peas to attract honeybees to her garden. She claims it worked. I might give it a try with the oil. I've grown it in my herb garden the last couple of years and noticed the leaves don't have much of a scent.
Title: Re: Lemon grass oil
Post by: SlickMick on March 26, 2009, 05:06:11 pm: Sounds like a lot of effort for very little return when you can just go out and buy the stuff doesn't it
Title: Re: Lemon grass oil
Post by: rdy-b on March 26, 2009, 08:16:53 pm: well i saw a show on TV about beekeeping in AFRICA and they where all rubing the insides of there top bar hives with fresh cut lemon grass -so it must do somthing :lol: RDY-B
Title: Re: Lemon grass oil
Post by: Michael Bush on March 26, 2009, 09:09:21 pm: Yes. It just won't last as long. Chip Taylor, who brought the idea back to the US, was studying AHB in South America when someone there told him it would work for swarm lure (the grass itself).
Title: Re: Lemon grass oil
Post by: troutstalker2 on March 27, 2009, 03:53:07 pm: How do you use the oil exactly? I bought some and I thought I would give it a try.
Title: Re: Lemon grass oil
Post by: Michael Bush on March 27, 2009, 03:59:14 pm: A few drops somewhere in the bait hive.
Title: Re: Lemon grass oil
Post by: gaucho10 on March 27, 2009, 08:31:25 pm: I use lemon grass essential oil. Place a few drops in a spray bottle and fill with water. Essential oil is concentrated. After mixing with water you will still smell it.
Title: Re: Lemon grass oil
Post by: Michael Bush on March 27, 2009, 10:31:23 pm: If you want to use fresh lemongrass you rub the inside of the bait hive with it and, if you like, leave some of it inside as well.