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Jan 10, 2016 9:40 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Phillip
brayton tn. (Zone 6b)
Canning and food preservation Region: United States of America Garden Ideas: Level 1
Please share your recipes
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Jan 10, 2016 3:17 PM CST
Moderator
Name: Margaret
Delta KY
I'm A Charley's Girl For Sure
Forum moderator I helped beta test the Garden Planting Calendar Hosted a Not-A-Raffle-Raffle Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Beekeeper
Seed Starter Permaculture Region: Kentucky Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Garden Ideas: Master Level
We don't use any. I've heard rubbing the inside of the hive with lem balm works.
Baiting with frames of honey works for some beekeepers.
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Apr 7, 2016 3:11 PM CST
Name: Terri
virginia (Zone 7a)
Beekeeper Dragonflies Farmer Region: Virginia
I tried lemon balm and lemongrass oil -caught nothing except wax moths. This year i am trying swarm commander.
Life is a rush into the unknown. You can duck down and hope nothing hits you, or you can stand tall, show it your teeth and say "Dish it up, Baby, and don't skimp on the jalapeƱos."
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Apr 7, 2016 5:39 PM CST
Moderator
Name: Margaret
Delta KY
I'm A Charley's Girl For Sure
Forum moderator I helped beta test the Garden Planting Calendar Hosted a Not-A-Raffle-Raffle Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Beekeeper
Seed Starter Permaculture Region: Kentucky Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Garden Ideas: Master Level
I'd be interested in hearing what the ingredients are in the swarm commander lure.

I found one recipe that uses
14 cup olive oil
Half sheet of foundation wax
20 drops of lemongrass
It said to combine all ingredients together in a glass container and heat in a double boiler or a pan of boiling water until the wax melts.
I'd wouldn't put the lemongrass essential oil in with the olive oil and beeswax though. I'd wait until the wax was melted then add the lemongrass essential oil.
It makes a paste that you then smear on the frames of the hive you want to lure the bees into.
Avatar for dragonfly53
Apr 13, 2016 7:44 AM CST
Name: Terri
virginia (Zone 7a)
Beekeeper Dragonflies Farmer Region: Virginia
There aren't any ingredients listed on the bottle for Swarm Commander. Isn't that against the law, don't you have to let the consumer know whats in there in case a child drinks it?
Life is a rush into the unknown. You can duck down and hope nothing hits you, or you can stand tall, show it your teeth and say "Dish it up, Baby, and don't skimp on the jalapeƱos."
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Apr 13, 2016 3:19 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Phillip
brayton tn. (Zone 6b)
Canning and food preservation Region: United States of America Garden Ideas: Level 1
Order a 2 ounce bottle of swarm Commander yesterday
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May 16, 2016 4:10 AM CST
Name: Jim Goodman
Northeast Louisiana
We've found the best way to set up swarm traps is to use empty frames with no foundation. When we first put them out we put some capping we saved just to attract the bees to the box. We also use a few drop of lemon grass oil. The bees will rob what honey is still on the cappings but they've located the box. We refresh the lemon grass oil after a week or so.
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Jun 14, 2016 8:15 PM CST
Name: Jim Goodman
Northeast Louisiana
I decided to up date my last post. I've caught seven swarms this year with five boxes out. I just saturated one end of Q Tip with lemon grass oil and put in the box. I'd put a drop at the entrance a couple of drops on top just to attract the bees. It has worked like a charm. The real trick is to put the boxes where the bees are. I had two of the boxes up on my land for two weeks and never saw a bee. I moved them where people were seeing bees and started catching them. Dissolve some sugar in warm water and pour it in a container with rocks in the bottom. If you don't see a bee in an hour, don't put up a box.

I'm not claiming to be an expert but I was pretty successful and my friend John who is teaching me did even better. He caught 44 swarms.
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Jun 15, 2016 2:07 PM CST
Name: Heath
sevierville TN (Zone 7a)
Beekeeper Bee Lover Composter Frugal Gardener Houseplants Region: Tennessee
Vermiculture Million Pollinator Garden Challenge
Do you have seven new bee hives now?
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Jun 16, 2016 12:24 PM CST
Name: Jim Goodman
Northeast Louisiana
I have six hives started this year. The seventh, I gave to my son-in-law. All the new hives, with the exception of two, have more than one swarm in them. My friend John has given me several swarms this year. All the new hives are thriving and I should get honey from all them in August.
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