For the first time this year, I have seen honeybees here in Sweden, and the really great news is they were going in and out of one of my bait hives!
For the second year runnning I have baited a swarm in a tiny old Svea 8 frame hive. It's about the same volume as a single warre box so not within the so called optimum volume for bait hives. I have had success for a few years with smaller volume bait hives so I think the theory is somewhat suspect. I will leave them where they are on my neighbors farm for the next 3 weeks without messing with them, if it's a cast, the virgin can get mated without me disturbing her.
I did a bit of hunting that suggested an 8 frame svea would be roughly 30cm x 30cm x 8 frames of 2.5 cm wide each for a width of 20cm giving a volume of roughly 18 liters. Does this sound correct?
ReplyDeleteI've got bait hives ranging from 10L to 40L out but no success yet.
Wonderful news, Norm!
ReplyDeleteDo you have a beekeeping neighbour close by or is it a swarm of unknown origin?
Jamie you are correct about the volume and I think your volume range is a good choice. I think the trick is to make your bait hive smell of bees and that is more of a magnet than volume.
ReplyDeleteCatalan, definately unknown origin, no known beekeepers in that area. I am hoping it is a feral swarm from an old barn or the like which there are many of around here.