I think some check out the bait hives for the sake of it…. They’ll smell the wax oils or lure it’s natural, it’s obviously how robbing dead colonies starts.Just been out to empty my father-in-law's grass clippings into the compost heap and on the way back noticed half a dozen bees around the entrance of my home bait hive. They're still checking it out now.
James
I think some check out the bait hives for the sake of it…. They’ll smell the wax oils or lure it’s natural, it’s obviously how robbing dead colonies starts.
I think food is something which is overlooked as a lure. I have a friend who runs a circuit of 20-30 traps during the season, driving probably an hour from end to end. He generally catches around 30 swarms and has a video series on YT of how he does it.I was setting up a bait hive this afternoon and there was interest it in before I'd even finished. I think that was probably a bee looking for food rather than a new home though,.
James
Some bees are just nosy. When you hear them measuring the volume you know its more serious. In poly hives you can hear them pinging off the wallsI think some check out the bait hives for the sake of it…. They’ll smell the wax oils or lure it’s natural, it’s obviously how robbing dead colonies starts.
Think it's been too cold for them this year. My colonies are way behind last years progress by at least a month! I have even had to feed some thin syrup to get them through.Last spring/early summer I was fascinated as people started to post on here about scouts appearing at their bait hives and eventually swarms arriving.
I guess ‘swarm season’ starts at different times depending where you are in the country…
It would be really interesting to hear when people start to get activity at their swarm traps and see pictures/vids of what’s going on!
Nothing to report here in north Cumbria as yet…
I am on the somerset /wiltshire border and the club I belong to has had one swarm.Last spring/early summer I was fascinated as people started to post on here about scouts appearing at their bait hives and eventually swarms arriving.
I guess ‘swarm season’ starts at different times depending where you are in the country…
It would be really interesting to hear when people start to get activity at their swarm traps and see pictures/vids of what’s going on!
Nothing to report here in north Cumbria as yet…
Whereabouts are you in Sussex?South Coast -first action today , 2 traps visited by 5 scouts . hopefully not from my hives.
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