Well this morning I was up in the carport getting ready to go out into town, and noticed a couple of bees hanging around near the rafters.
Being that it's swarm season here (Tasmania, Australia) I decided to pop a baited box up in the open roof and see what they thought of it.
The top box has old, drawn comb in frames, the bottom box is empty because i didn't have any extras. I put a cotton ball with lemongrass essential oil on it, inside a folded piece of A4 paper on the bottom board. I strapped it together with a lid on and climbed on a chair and put it up near the bees that were hanging around.
I went out, came back, and viola! BEES!!
they're coming and going - I have a video uploading will share when done - and unless it's the same 20 bees doing some strange revolving door dance.. well i'd say a swarm has decided it's a nice place to live :D
I'm concerned the door is open too wide for a weak hive to defend - should I perhaps close it a little?
I'm going to let them establish before I consider moving them (the carport is really not an attractive location!) but I'm hoping that it's indeed a full swarm and that they are setting up house with a nice young, vigorous queen in there.
https://youtu.be/TuNHx9BowT0