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Author Topic: Pressed Fiber Swarm Traps  (Read 12461 times)

Offline capt44

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Pressed Fiber Swarm Traps
« on: May 10, 2014, 01:27:17 am »
I bought 10 pressed fiber swarm traps and they cost $190.00
I decided to buy 32 pressed fiber pots from a nursery supply company.
They were 12x11 inches.
I put 2 together, filled in all the holes except 1, glued alittle old comb in the back and baited it with lemon grass oil.
I made 16 traps for $55.00.
Here is a picture of one.



The 1st picture is a 16x13 pressed fiber pot mounted to plywood.
Notice the bees working, they took it.
I built 32 traps for $90.00
The second picture is of the 12x11 pressed fiber pots.
The 3rd picture is a swarm trap bought from a bee supply catalog.
They run around $23.50 each.
Every trap I put lemon grass oil in has caught.
Every trap I had Queen Pheromone in zilt, no bees.
Richard Vardaman (capt44)

Offline BeeMaster2

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Re: Pressed Fiber Swarm Traps
« Reply #1 on: May 10, 2014, 08:32:50 am »
Capt,
Did you put the lemon grass oil in a container in the trap or did you put a drop on the inside of the trap itself?
I wonder if a standard black flower pot would work? Seems like they would prefer the fiber material due to the better insulation qualities.
How long do you leave they in the trap before you hive 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.
Ben Franklin

Offline capt44

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Re: Pressed Fiber Swarm Traps
« Reply #2 on: May 22, 2014, 08:21:33 pm »
When I set the trap up I glue a piece of old comb about 8-10 inches long x 3 inches or so in the back or to the plywood.
For the bait I use lemon grass essence oil.
I take a plastic straw (large diameter ones) and cut them in 2 inch or so pieces.
I cut a notch in one end for a thumb tack and fill the straw half full of cotton.
I put 5 or 6 drops of lemon grass oil on the cotton then finish filling the straw with cotton.
I then pin it to the inside of the pot towards the back and high.
That's it.
I usually wait until I see bees going into the trap with pollen on their legs.
I then take the trap down and basically do a cut out after the pot is removed.
I use empty wooden frames and rubber bands.
I have 10 packages of the queen pheromone scent but it didn't work.
I put lemon grass oil in the traps and they caught.
So far I have 17 traps with bees in them.
I have as of today caught 31 swarms.
I have15 working trap outs going now and have another 14 to set up.
So much for retirement.
But I love it!
Richard Vardaman (capt44)

Offline Robo

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Re: Pressed Fiber Swarm Traps
« Reply #3 on: May 22, 2014, 08:46:41 pm »
Why?

They are the worst design for a swarm trap,  you need to do a cut-out to get the bees.   You can built traps that hold frames out of 3/8 plywood for about $3 each.   Then you just move the frames of bees to your hives, no stress on bees and beekeeper and they don't waste a lot of effort and resources recovering from the "cut-out"

"Opportunity is missed by most people because it comes dressed in overalls and looks like work." - Thomas Edison



Offline danno

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Re: Pressed Fiber Swarm Traps
« Reply #4 on: May 23, 2014, 09:03:33 am »
Why?

They are the worst design for a swarm trap,  you need to do a cut-out to get the bees.   You can built traps that hold frames out of 3/8 plywood for about $3 each.   Then you just move the frames of bees to your hives, no stress on bees and beekeeper and they don't waste a lot of effort and resources recovering from the "cut-out"


I'll 2nd this "WHY"
I build mine out of luan w/ 3/4 pine ends.   Painted flat green ,  they are light weight,easy to hang and hide.   

Offline BeeMaster2

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Re: Pressed Fiber Swarm Traps
« Reply #5 on: May 23, 2014, 09:31:25 am »
When I set the trap up I glue a piece of old comb about 8-10 inches long x 3 inches or so in the back or to the plywood.
For the bait I use lemon grass essence oil.
I take a plastic straw (large diameter ones) and cut them in 2 inch or so pieces.
I cut a notch in one end for a thumb tack and fill the straw half full of cotton.
I put 5 or 6 drops of lemon grass oil on the cotton then finish filling the straw with cotton.
I then pin it to the inside of the pot towards the back and high.
That's it.
I usually wait until I see bees going into the trap with pollen on their legs.
I then take the trap down and basically do a cut out after the pot is removed.
I use empty wooden frames and rubber bands.
I have 10 packages of the queen pheromone scent but it didn't work.
I put lemon grass oil in the traps and they caught.
So far I have 17 traps with bees in them.
I have as of today caught 31 swarms.
I have15 working trap outs going now and have another 14 to set up.
So much for retirement.
But I love it!

Thanks Capt. Good info on how you set them.
One thing I just started doing is to put a dead queen in the trap.  I have a bunch of queens in alcohol from a frame full of emergency cells that I was given last October. I put it in an incubator and they would hatch and then die within a day or so. I put them all in a jar of alcohol and saved them. I put them and lemongrass in traps right next to my workshop. The bees started checking them out right away. I caught a small swarm and put it in my observation hive. I took the traps away to stop those bees from trying to stay in the old location.
Yesterday I took a queen out of the alcohol and placed it in one of those traps. Within 15 minutes there was a dozen drones going in and out of them. Hours later the bees were checking it out.
I really thought that the alcohol would have to bee completely gone before they would bee attracted to it.
I used some of the alcohol in with the lemon grass in a baggie but I Am not seeing the same results so far.
Jim
Democracy is 2 wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well armed lamb contesting the vote.
Ben Franklin

Offline bud1

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Re: Pressed Fiber Swarm Traps
« Reply #6 on: May 23, 2014, 12:45:48 pm »
rob I catch a lot o swarms;  I use frames and nothing   plain old box  wid lemongrass =swarm
to bee or not to bee

Offline Robo

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Re: Pressed Fiber Swarm Traps
« Reply #7 on: May 23, 2014, 09:12:17 pm »
rob I catch a lot o swarms;  I use frames and nothing   plain old box  wid lemongrass =swarm

Ya, but catching the same swarm over and over doesn't count :-P
"Opportunity is missed by most people because it comes dressed in overalls and looks like work." - Thomas Edison



Offline RHBee

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Re: Pressed Fiber Swarm Traps
« Reply #8 on: May 23, 2014, 11:00:35 pm »
Why?

They are the worst design for a swarm trap,  you need to do a cut-out to get the bees.   You can built traps that hold frames out of 3/8 plywood for about $3 each.   Then you just move the frames of bees to your hives, no stress on bees and beekeeper and they don't waste a lot of effort and resources recovering from the "cut-out"


I'll 2nd this "WHY"
I build mine out of luan w/ 3/4 pine ends.   Painted flat green ,  they are light weight,easy to hang and hide.   

First and most obvious reason--Not everyone has the equipment needed to fabricate wooden ware from scratch. Secondly-- Not everyone has the skills to build from scratch. I figure Capt is just sharing something that anyone can use. Don't get me wrong,  I would rather build my own traps with removable frames but that's because I can. With the Capts idea anyone with some lemon grass oil can catch a swarm or two.
Just my two cents.
Later,
Ray

Offline BeeMaster2

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Re: Pressed Fiber Swarm Traps
« Reply #9 on: May 23, 2014, 11:19:26 pm »
Good answer, good answer.  :-D
Democracy is 2 wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well armed lamb contesting the vote.
Ben Franklin

Offline Robo

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Re: Pressed Fiber Swarm Traps
« Reply #10 on: May 23, 2014, 11:26:08 pm »
Good answer, good answer.  :-D

Not really....

Capt does have the skills to build woodenware AND you wouldn't need to build 32 of these to just demonstrate for anyone that doesn't have the skills.
"Opportunity is missed by most people because it comes dressed in overalls and looks like work." - Thomas Edison



Offline BeeMaster2

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Re: Pressed Fiber Swarm Traps
« Reply #11 on: May 23, 2014, 11:34:11 pm »
Good answer, good answer.  :-D

Not really....

Capt does have the skills to build woodenware AND you wouldn't need to build 32 of these to just demonstrate for anyone that doesn't have the skills.
Robo,
I suspect Capt just likes to do the cut outs.  :-D
Democracy is 2 wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well armed lamb contesting the vote.
Ben Franklin

Offline RHBee

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Re: Pressed Fiber Swarm Traps
« Reply #12 on: May 24, 2014, 06:03:13 am »
It could also be that he is strapped for equipment and time. His area did take a tornado hit. Anyway,  I didn't focus on how many he built but on the method. The simplicity of the build and the application of a cheaper alternative.
This forum has helped me so many times with concepts as well as applications of beekeeping. I simply see this as yet another example of information exchange that could help someone. Different perspectives.
Later,
Ray

Offline Kevin Bentley

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Re: Pressed Fiber Swarm Traps
« Reply #13 on: May 24, 2014, 02:01:22 pm »
Either way works for a newb!  I love the fact that we all have different ideas to achieve a common goal.

Offline capt44

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Re: Pressed Fiber Swarm Traps
« Reply #14 on: May 26, 2014, 10:10:13 am »
yep all I was doing was giving an idea on how to save money on store bought equipment.
Yep I have the wood shop and equipment to build about anything to do with bee equipment.
Yep when you go to collect the bees from a pressed fiber pot it does involve a cut-out.
It's just I've had a lot better luck catching in the pressed fiber pots around these parts.
Now next year may be another story altogether.
Since I learned to do trap outs from Iddee I have been literally swamped with trap-outs.
I'm suppose to give a class in August on how to do them and I thank Iddee for that information.
But the swarm traps do work.
Lemon Grass Essence Oil works.
I set one of Mannlake's swarm traps out and baited it with the queen pheromone scent and the next day caught a Starling, yep they built a bird nest in the swarm trap.
As of now I've caught 32 swarms, have 19 swarm traps with bees and 14 or so trap outs going right now with 15 more on the books to do.
Yep this is a good year here, slow to start but hang'n on for the ride now.
Richard Vardaman (capt44)

Offline RHBee

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Re: Pressed Fiber Swarm Traps
« Reply #15 on: May 26, 2014, 11:31:01 am »
Sounds like your gonna exceed your hive limit Capt.
Later,
Ray

Offline capt44

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Re: Pressed Fiber Swarm Traps
« Reply #16 on: May 27, 2014, 12:50:10 am »
I hear ya.
I enjoy working with honey bees and really like promoting them to new folks.
I catch a lot of bees, swarms, traps and such but I do give new beekeepers a start of bees a lot.
Fact is I'm giving away 2 six frame Nucs with honey bees as a door prizes June the 14th at the clubs BBQ.
Richard Vardaman (capt44)

Offline danno

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Re: Pressed Fiber Swarm Traps
« Reply #17 on: May 27, 2014, 08:57:06 am »
very generous but back to what Rob said above "Why not just hang the 6 frame nuc's. 

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Re: Pressed Fiber Swarm Traps
« Reply #18 on: May 27, 2014, 12:26:19 pm »
Capt, Have you seen the sale that Mann Lake is having? They have 5 frame cardboard nucs on sale for $5.25. That is a complete trap ready for you to put your empty frames in and place in the field. Even has a plug to close it up and take it home.
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 capt44

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Re: Pressed Fiber Swarm Traps
« Reply #19 on: May 28, 2014, 12:53:14 am »
Yep that sounds good.
It's just I've got all these pressed fiber pots sooooo I'm using them.
I've bought more lumber to build more of the 6 frame nucs for I'm running low.
I only have 5 left empty.
I got 2 more trap outs added to my todo list this morning.
I have to build more hives and supers just to set up the trap out jobs.
Then build hives to put the swarm trap bees in.
I'm finding out quick there just isn't enough time in a day.
Richard Vardaman (capt44)