Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => EQUIPMENT USAGE, EXPERIMENTATION, HIVE PLANS, CONSTRUCTION TIPS AND TOOLS => Topic started by: Bleemus on December 03, 2011, 06:27:41 pm

Title: Swarm Trap complete!
Post by: Bleemus on December 03, 2011, 06:27:41 pm

After reading Honeybee Democracy I decided to build a swarm trap that took into account all of Dr Seelys research.

The only real difference is that I made the length perfect for a frame so that I could put one or two frames in it. Seely just tested putting chunks of comb in the box. As you can see from the photo there is considerable space under the frames and that is intentional so they have an easier time measuring the volume.

(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-WA7rmZfnnQY/Ttqgw9zWo_I/AAAAAAAAAwg/QtNXAWH02bA/s640/IMG_5108.JPG)
 
This is the entrance. 1.25" hole with a nail through it.
 
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-IJ8ZKJdYDAg/TtqgxHCXGxI/AAAAAAAAAwk/zEYH3Nw85mc/s640/IMG_5109.JPG)
 
This is the bottom. I added feet and behind that piece of wood in the middle is a screen ventilation hole. After a swarm is captured and I screen the entrance I will remove the board allowing good ventilation for transport.
 
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-sCl7feqju8U/TtqgxZ9uH3I/AAAAAAAAAwo/vzH-lDT9RVw/s640/IMG_5111.JPG)
 
Add a cover that has some screws to secure it and I am ready for some hunting!!
 
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-n3r60A4pINU/TtqgxriQwoI/AAAAAAAAAws/cmFc1pXUaZI/s640/IMG_5112.JPG)

Title: Re: Swarm Trap complete!
Post by: adamant on December 04, 2011, 01:47:56 pm

good job..

Title: Re: Swarm Trap complete!
Post by: bud1 on December 04, 2011, 06:35:42 pm

looks good, make them as light as you can where you can flip a weight over a limb and just pull it up, then when you see activity, just let it down

Title: Re: Swarm Trap complete!
Post by: Bleemus on December 04, 2011, 06:40:18 pm

Thanks guys. I do plan on adding a loop of rope to the hole in the mounting stick so I can hook a carabiner into it and lower it from a rope over a branch above. Don't want to be dancing on a ladder with it!!

Title: Re: Swarm Trap complete!
Post by: AllenF on December 04, 2011, 08:03:47 pm

Looks great.

Title: Re: Swarm Trap complete!
Post by: jaseemtp on December 04, 2011, 11:05:34 pm

That is a nice looking swarm trap.

Title: Re: Swarm Trap complete!
Post by: adamant on December 16, 2011, 09:44:39 am

nice job.. i just bought the book yesterday.. cant wait to get into it..

Title: Re: Swarm Trap complete!
Post by: jb63 on December 23, 2011, 12:43:18 am

.   (http://i847.photobucket.com/albums/ab31/jcb63/bees/001.jpg)

Title: Re: Swarm Trap complete!
Post by: Country Heart on December 23, 2011, 01:25:35 am

    Very nice     X:X 

Title: Re: Swarm Trap complete!
Post by: gov1623 on December 23, 2011, 11:19:22 pm

I just finished building 20 5 frame deep swarm traps for about $30 out of 1/2'' in plywood for sides and 1/4'' for the top and bottom. Built one last year and caught one swarm. Wont let me post the pics because i don't have enough post yet. Anyone know how many post you need to start posting pics.

Title: Re: Swarm Trap complete!
Post by: beee farmer on December 26, 2011, 09:57:32 pm

Great swarm trap.

Title: Re: Swarm Trap complete!
Post by: Titus on December 27, 2011, 04:43:39 pm

Your trap looks very nice.  I am imagining the trap being held up by a rope through that hole.  Wouldn't the trap hang a little offset (face down) and would it matter if it swung around a little on the rope?    I plan to make a couple of traps soon.

Title: Re: Swarm Trap complete!
Post by: Intheswamp on December 27, 2011, 09:42:11 pm

I think that style of trap is meant to be hung by a large nail or spike.  A rope can also be attached so when it's time to lower it it will be easier.  But, the trap will probably be hanging right against a tree trunk so the bottom portion will be supported and possibly jut out a little bit more than the top rather than hang downward...very little movement, too.  Just my take on it.

Ed

Title: Re: Swarm Trap complete!
Post by: ScooterTrash on December 28, 2011, 01:51:50 pm

Now that's the cat's meow. Thks

Title: Re: Swarm Trap complete!
Post by: yockey5 on December 28, 2011, 03:02:05 pm

Looks very good.

Title: Re: Swarm Trap complete!
Post by: Geoff on December 28, 2011, 04:26:20 pm

Anybody that wants advice on swarm traps talk to Bud. He catches them and Schawee finds the queens !!!

Title: Re: Swarm Trap complete!
Post by: RC on December 29, 2011, 08:17:19 am

What's the purpose of the nail thru the entrance?

Title: Re: Swarm Trap complete!
Post by: Robo on December 29, 2011, 08:29:53 am

Quote from: RC on December 29, 2011, 08:17:19 am

What's the purpose of the nail thru the entrance?

To prevent birds from making a bird house out of it