Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum
BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: rubeehaven2 on March 03, 2013, 05:50:34 pm
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I live in the Hudson valley, NY, and winter seems to be making a reprieve at the moment, but I am wondering when swarm traps should be set out. (Honestly, I haven't made them yet, but am wondering how much time I might have to work on them!) Am I right in thinking that early to mid April will be the beginning of "Swarm season" in this area? I'm about an hour south of Albany.
Thanks, Rich
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I am in West Michigan, around the same distance North/South as you. I was told mid April is when the hives start swarming around here...but they do continue through the summer, so you'll have a pretty good change of catching some swarms if you leave them up / keep putting them up all spring/summer.
Good luck!!
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To be honest unless you are placing them in your own bee yards or yards near other's peoples bees the chances of catching a swarm is pretty slim in this part of the country. If we were in the south or mid-west along the migration routes than it would be worth while, but not up here.
I have only ever had swarm traps catch my own swarms.
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My traps were very successful up here.....at housing squirrels. :)
Best to put your name out there in the local papers' classifieds. You phone won't stop ringing.
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Robo has done removals from old homes in the Catskills. They came from swarms. You have nothing to lose but an opportunity if you don't hang one out.
And 2sox is right,contact local emergency services and get your namew on a list for swarm removal.Firemen and police would rather someone else took care of this problem
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I get my traps out by the end of April. When it starts is heavily dependent on the weather. Some years are earlier than the others, but Memorial Day is when I usually start getting calls.
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Here in Central Arkansas I am going to start setting traps Saturday.
Weather is a bit chilly but the bees are laying, have been for a couple of weeks now.
The gals are bringing in some pollen and such already.
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You can put out bait stations and check locations prior to hanging traps. If you don't have honey bees visiting your bait stations within a few days don't hang a trap in that area. I place bait stations on public right of ways like cemeteries, town parks, greenways, and nature preserves.
They can be as simple as a piece of PVC pipe with a bit of honey in it.
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To be honest unless you are placing them in your own bee yards or yards near other's peoples bees the chances of catching a swarm is pretty slim in this part of the country. If we were in the south or mid-west along the migration routes than it would be worth while, but not up here.
I have only ever had swarm traps catch my own swarms.
:lau: Get those traps out before your bees swarm :). I always thought that was the idea.
I keep putting out traps every year but have only been successful with an empty hive of 2 medium supers full of drawn/empty brood comb. Ever since then I always have an empty hive but have yet to have the same experience. I think I'm just getting better at prohibiting swarms.
Swarms that are cast from my own yard do seem to prefer an apple tree about 20' in front of the beeyard. I've caught several swarms over the years from that lone tree. Always an easy catch.