Page 1 of 7 123 ... LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 65

Thread: Swarm trap

  1. #1
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Location
    Lochaber
    Posts
    124
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default Swarm trap

    Has anyone tried or had any experience of the Swarm Trap that Thornes have in their new catalogue ? How efficient have you found them ? I'm considering getting one, but would just like to sound them out first for the pros and cons - thanks.

  2. #2

    Default

    Someone I know has one. I have not had the opportunity to quizz him (lucky he). He has I know expressed the opinion that it is too small, but has worked as the queen has been restrained and the swarm hung off it.
    My opinion is that it is very expensive and is no more than a simplified and inferior version of the old drone trap. It is more convenient to use than an excluder under the brood box and would work in a similar manner. As a temporary measure, it is likely to be adequate; i.e use it if the bees are likely to swarm so that your colony is not decimated when you return in the late afternoon. I enjoyed your post - you have me thinking now

  3. #3
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Location
    Lochaber
    Posts
    124
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default

    Thanks for the reply Dark Bee, I would be keen to know if you get the opportunity to quiz your friend and apart from being too small, his other views on it too. I know that there will be nothing to beat the beekeepers vigilance and preventative methods chosen, but I have a hive where it is just imperative that no swarming happens - a hard won by site which I am just not willing to give up, so it would be as a safety measure really. With all the best intentions in the world and observations etc, as we all know, bees can and will outfox us !

  4. #4

    Default

    Not heard of this until now Marion. My cynical view is that if it was good we would have all heard about it.
    I suppose it's an alternative to inspecting in the rain (as you have to sometimes)

  5. #5
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Nov 2011
    Location
    400 miles S of Stonehaven
    Posts
    398

    Default

    Could you try using something like the anti swarm system on Modern Beekeeping? It's basically a three and a half sided eke above the queen excluder. http://www.modernbeekeeping.co.uk/it...i-swarm-system and this pdf http://www.modernbeekeeping.co.uk/gr...structions.pdf I don't think it's 100% folproof, but I don't think any system is.

  6. #6
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Lindau Germany
    Posts
    705
    Blog Entries
    5

    Default

    Mmm. Wouldn't recommend wasting money on any of that. Better be a better aparist... Help your bees do what you, they and nature want! Just keep them in check by making new colonies. There are at least two methods that even my wife could manage (she puts up with my beekeeping), neither of which would affect honey harvested.
    If you want to keep your site, I'd suggest an artificial swarm by moving the hive 3ft and leaving in its place a hive with food and pollen, one frame of brood in all phases with attending bees, and the rest empty frames. Do this when queen cups are polished on a day they are flying well. Break out all but three queen cells a week later, about three weeks later your new queen should be laying.... Less expense hassle and equipment, and your site is doubly secure
    Last edited by Calum; 11-03-2013 at 06:34 AM.

  7. #7

    Default

    Another alternative is to Demaree when they are getting strong.

  8. #8
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Nov 2011
    Location
    400 miles S of Stonehaven
    Posts
    398

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Black Comb View Post
    alternative is to Demaree when they are getting strong.
    I agree.

    A Demaree, a walkaway split or an artificial swarm as described by Calum is more likely to work but I'm not so sure about leaving 3 intact queencells.

  9. #9
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Lindau Germany
    Posts
    705
    Blog Entries
    5

    Default

    I'd leave three open ones if I could (from youngest brood), so long as they are well spread out they'll be different ages and should end up hatching at different times, gives the first more time to kill the other two. Shouldn't be a problem when they are all on the same frame. Thanks for the terms, I only learnt to be a beekeeper in Germany so don't know the terms in english!
    Last edited by Calum; 11-03-2013 at 10:43 AM.

  10. #10
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Location
    Lochaber
    Posts
    124
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default

    All good stuff - thanks for all the excellent views and advice.

Tags for this Thread

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •