Monday morning I caught a huge swarm the size of 2 basket balls. They filled 2 deeps. About 2 weeks ago I caught another swarm that left by the end of the day so this time before I shook them I shot alittle lemon grass oil in, shook them and moved it about a mile away. I also put a gallon of syrup w/ alittle honey-Bee- healthy in it and they seem happy. I know I have had 2 swarms in my hives this year but have caught four in my back fields. This big one and the one a couple of weeks ago didn't come from my bees. They were very close to my hives within 50 feet. I have no other beeks within a couple of miles. My question is are my bees attracting these?
I think your question has merit. My friend Bailey has had swarms move into his yard before he started keeping bees but much more so since.
I have had a swarm move into my yard, I watched it fly in from the west and settle into a deep and a medium that was a dead out.
Today I removed two swarms in the same area where two hives are kept. I checked both of those hives Wednesday of this past week and one of the other ones again on Friday, two days ago.
Today I went through both hives top to bottom and found no swarm cells and original queens in both hives.
I would like to hear others chime in here on this issue.
...JP