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Author Topic: Baited box = instant hive?  (Read 4162 times)

Offline dunderi

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Baited box = instant hive?
« on: December 10, 2015, 12:24:21 am »
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










Offline Wombat2

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Re: Baited box = instant hive?
« Reply #1 on: December 10, 2015, 02:15:26 am »
If you have a syrup feeder that may help them decided - "room service" -  besides it will help them build comb quicker
David L

Offline Richard M

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Re: Baited box = instant hive?
« Reply #2 on: December 10, 2015, 03:28:36 am »
Cool.

Whereabouts in the NE are you dunderi?

Offline dunderi

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Re: Baited box = instant hive?
« Reply #3 on: December 10, 2015, 04:11:38 am »
I put a feeder nearby,  which attracted attention reasonably quickly. 

I'm in Branxholm :)

I'm really hoping that it's a) an actual swarm b) that they stick around and c) that I don't fluff it up by moving the box to ground level after dark tonight :D

Offline Flycaster

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Re: Baited box = instant hive?
« Reply #4 on: December 10, 2015, 05:27:10 am »
Brilliant 😊

Must be the weather as i think ive got one today too move into a swarm trap.

The other two had a lot of activity too but theyre quiet now evening is drawing in.

Offline dunderi

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Re: Baited box = instant hive?
« Reply #5 on: December 10, 2015, 08:02:48 pm »
Brilliant 😊

Must be the weather as i think ive got one today too move into a swarm trap.

The other two had a lot of activity too but theyre quiet now evening is drawing in.

how did you go with yours? I'm a bit disappointed - went up to pop a queen excluder into mine and there's nothing doing. i've got bees everywhere today but nothing in the boxes.... bleugh.

Offline Flycaster

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Re: Baited box = instant hive?
« Reply #6 on: December 10, 2015, 10:38:11 pm »
Well when I left for work this morning there was nothing happening 😕 But it was quite chilly and there weren't many bees on any of the plants either.

There were a couple going in and out last orders last night but nothing this morning. I didn't pull the box down to have a look I'll just leave them till I know for sure I think.

Offline herbhome

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Re: Baited box = instant hive?
« Reply #7 on: December 15, 2015, 02:07:30 pm »
Could be scouts- give em time
Neill

Offline BeeMaster2

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Re: Baited box = instant hive?
« Reply #8 on: December 15, 2015, 08:32:45 pm »
What Herb said. I let them go for several weeks. That way they have created a lot of wax and not so prone to leave when you move them.
Jim
Democracy is 2 wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well armed lamb contesting the vote.
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Offline Wombat2

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Re: Baited box = instant hive?
« Reply #9 on: December 20, 2015, 11:27:47 pm »
Swarms are good - one I caught a few months back just produced 28.5Kg on its first robbing - Happy little Vegemites
David L

Offline Flycaster

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Re: Baited box = instant hive?
« Reply #10 on: December 21, 2015, 06:47:11 am »
 Wow.... thats very impressive. The scout bees obviously got outvoted at my place. 😕

Offline Lancej

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Re: Baited box = instant hive?
« Reply #11 on: December 21, 2015, 08:09:28 am »
Did the first inspection of a small cut out that I picked up around 2 weeks ago, this was definitely not a feral swarm, the queen had a yellow paint mark.

Offline dunderi

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Re: Baited box = instant hive?
« Reply #12 on: December 21, 2015, 06:18:33 pm »
wow! 

I got a swarm call on Wednesday last week for a swarm that they thought had been there a day or so maybe.  They were trying to tempt them into a cardboard box.

I crawled in the roof cavity and couldn't see our hear them so we went in from the eaves soffit;

couple kilos of bees, couple kilos of new comb and honey - and they are angry angry bees! !

I reckon we got the Queen though,  they've been bearding a lot over the new box with all the hot weather too.


Offline Flycaster

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Re: Baited box = instant hive?
« Reply #13 on: December 21, 2015, 08:19:22 pm »
Nice 😊.

They might calm down a bit when they settle in ...    fingers crossed

Offline herbhome

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Re: Baited box = instant hive?
« Reply #14 on: December 22, 2015, 01:59:09 pm »
That's just too cool, good for you!
Neill