Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: VolunteerK9 on April 18, 2011, 11:07:45 am

Title: Trap out question
Post by: VolunteerK9 on April 18, 2011, 11:07:45 am
I have the opportunity to try my hand at my first trapout but heres the scoop:

This is a colony that has set up shop in a concrete block wall. There are two separate holes being used as entrances-Im thinking two separate colonies about 24 inches from each other.

Will I have to do 2 trapouts at the same time? My thinking is that instead of setting up shop in the introduced hive body, that the returning foragers would just join the second hive (if it is a second colony)

Any thoughts? Any way to determine if this is two colonies or not?

Breaking out bricks is not an option.
Title: Re: Trap out question
Post by: Jim134 on April 18, 2011, 11:24:37 am
I hope the bees do not find more holes after you start trapping
Just my 2 cents


   BEE HAPPY Jim 134 :)
Title: Re: Trap out question
Post by: hardwood on April 18, 2011, 11:33:36 am
Yes, two separate colonies would need two separate trap out cones.

Scott
Title: Re: Trap out question
Post by: T Beek on April 18, 2011, 11:49:31 am
Our weather has been too crappy to attempt a trap out right now (21F this AM), but there's a colony in the wall of a friends trailer that needs to be removed and I've sort of volunteered :-\.  I'm waiting for a day in the 60's and based on recent temps that's going to be sometime in July ;).  This will be my first trap out also.  The owners say they didn't notice it last year so I figure it must've been a late swarm.  The amount of available videos is overwhelming to say the least. 8-)

thomas
Title: Re: Trap out question
Post by: iddee on April 18, 2011, 12:43:24 pm
I'm thinking two colonies, but I would go on the inside with an infrared thermometer and see if I could find one or two brood nests. Either way, I would put two screens.
Title: Re: Trap out question
Post by: VolunteerK9 on April 18, 2011, 01:11:02 pm
Okie doke. Thanks all for the info.
Title: Re: Trap out question
Post by: AllenF on April 18, 2011, 07:47:27 pm
If just one hive/ brood area, why not just seal one of the holes before you start?
Title: Re: Trap out question
Post by: iddee on April 18, 2011, 08:00:44 pm
If you find only one brood area, it it guaranteed there isn't another one? Besides, with two exits, they "might" come out faster.
I may only use one box, but I would use two cones, if I thought there may be two colonies.
Title: Re: Trap out question
Post by: AllenF on April 18, 2011, 08:08:34 pm
The last trap out I did last year was a room that was an old porch and the floor was 2 x 6 opened to the sides with at least a 1/2 gap between each board.   I used a whole can of foam and a whole tube of caulk to close up everything but the biggest hole in the middle of the fly zone.   It took 2 trips to get it closed up.   Foragers are going out to work everyday, one cone or two, right?  The same number should leave out.