Ingredients of a Swarm Trap

[Solomon]

Here are my ingredients for a swarm traps from my swarm trapping talk.

Swarm trap

• Factors
  • like fishing
  • Each factor adds desirability as a bee home
  • Start with 0% and increase from there
  • Read Honeybee Democracy
• Box volume
  • between 35 and 60 liters (9 to 15 gallons or 1.5–2 cubic feet).
  • 8-frame deep, 1.25 cf, 9.4 gal, 35 liters
  • 10-frame deeps are 43 liters
  • 5-frame nuc: 23 liters, double 46 liters.
  • 8-frame medium, 24 liters, double 48 liters (Bush Special)
  • A ten-frame medium, 29 liters, double 58 liters
  • Logs harder
• Used box
  • Can simulate by rubbing propolis
  • Fresh wood offgases
• Used comb
  • Darker comb better
  • Small piece okay
• Repeat location
  • Heathland videos
  • Don’t cut the branch, more swarms may land there later
• Entrance size
  • Two square inches
  • 1.58” inch diameter round hole
  • Appropriate sized slot
• Lure
  • LGO, citrol, Nasanov pheromone,
  • lure in bag
• Box height
  • 8-15 ft
• Empty space in box
  • Good place for foundation, foundationless, do not like plastic
• Light
  • No light from above (no translucent materials)
  • Excessive heat will cause abandonment
  • Afternoon shade
• Free of wasps and hornets
• Weather proof
• For your convenience:
  • Lightweight
  • Easy to attach to tree

[Schuman130]

Solomon,
I'm using two Warre boxes with top bars as a swarm trap. I have a solid bottom board with about a 5 inch wide opening. I've reduced the opening to about 2 inches. My question is do you think this set up is ok? Or would it be better to drill a hole in the bottom box as an entrance and use a solid bottom board with no opening?

[Solomon]

That will work. As to comparing it with other designs, I cannot say.