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Every beekeeper knows - for the reproduction of bee colonies, it is necessary to lure bees and catch a swarm when swarming. So you can create a new family. You need bait to attract the swarm. It is considered an effective method to use the bait Unira for bee swarms. It is important to know how to properly use this method to attract swarms.
What are the methods of attracting and catching swarms
Experienced beekeepers know several of the most popular methods for attracting swarms. The family begins to swarm when several queens appear. In one family, according to the laws, there must be one queen. Therefore, the newly appeared queens take away part of the swarm and look for a new home for themselves. At this point, it is important to catch the swarm and identify it in the hive. Then the beekeeper will receive more honey and more hives on the site.
It is important to catch the moment of the very beginning of an important process, since the swarm stays near the native hive for a very short time. Then he can leave the site, and the beekeeper will lose some of his insects.
Experienced beekeepers use the following methods to attract swarms:
- scions and pockets for fishing;
- special preparations;
- traps.
What exactly gives the best result in attracting swarms, each beekeeper identifies for himself independently.
Graft for bees
The graft has been used for a long time. This method was invented by the first beekeepers in ancient times. To catch swarms, they used a pole to which a horse's skull was attached.
Now, as a scion to attract swarms, cone-shaped wire products are used, which are coated with propolis. Also suitable for pole attachment and simple planks. In this case, it is important that the base can withstand a weight of 3 kg. This is how much the original swarm can weigh.
If the scion is not organized, then the beekeeper will sometimes have to climb into very inconvenient and high places.
It is important to set the scion correctly to attract swarms. The ideal height is considered to be a distance of 4-6 m, but lower is possible. The search for a place for a hive is carried out by scouts who will not lead a bee colony to an area close to damp earth or hot under the sun. Ordinary worker bees act as scouts. They primarily inspect the places where they used to look for pollen and nectar. Therefore, a clearing or trees in the garden, where there are always many bees collecting nectar, becomes the optimal place for scion placement. Pastures, coniferous forests, arable lands cultivated by man are bad places, there the graft with bait will not work.
If the scion was already located on the site in previous years, then you need to pay attention to its effectiveness. If earlier it was possible to catch a swarm here, then the place was chosen well and should be used in the future. Swarm attraction efficiency will not decrease. The scouts do not collect pollen, therefore, if bees collecting nectar appear, the swarm takes root.
Do-it-yourself graft for bees
It is not difficult to prepare a scion with your own hands. To make a bait for swarms with your own hands, you need a board 40 cm long and 20 cm wide and a 35-centimeter bar.
The beam is supposed to be covered with an old canvas removed from the hive. Lubricate the bottom of the board with an alcohol solution of propolis. Over time, the alcohol will evaporate, but the smell of propolis will remain. This will attract swarming bees.
A holder is attached to the board from the back side, for which the entire structure is suspended from a pole or a tree at a height of up to 3 m.
Traps
Any beekeeper can make a trap with his own hands. It is a simple box with one hole that closes. In this case, the bees will perfectly tolerate the move. In order to make it more convenient to move the bees into the hives, it is recommended to put honeycombs and frames with foundation inside the trap.
You can make a similar trap to attract swarms from an old block by freeing it from the core.
If a lot of bees are circling near the trap or scion, they fly out and fly into the hole - the swarm is caught. It is recommended to take the prey when all the bees return from the fields. This is before sunset.
You don't need to use special baits for traps. It is enough to put frames in honeycombs and an old canvas from the hive. To attract swarms, the canvas must be impregnated with propolis. The result is a natural bait for swarming bee colonies. The smell of the native hive should attract them no less effectively than the bait. But experienced beekeepers advise you to add specialized baits so that the result is 100%.
Bee bait
Now, to attract swarms, specific veterinary drugs are applied to the scions. Their action is based on basic bee instincts.
Most often, such baits are based on pheromones. These are dissolved components of the glands, such as citral and geranyl. In addition to the main substances, additional ones are used:
- geranic acid;
- nerolic acid;
- stabilizer hexane.
There are also improved solutions with the addition of acid 9 ODK.
The effectiveness of drugs mostly depends on the rate of evaporation of pheromones. For the use of baits, the above traps are suitable. It is important that the trap is moisture-proof and green. Frames with foundation and dryness are installed inside the trap.
The beekeeper must be able to correctly place traps, and this knowledge comes only with experience. Only with a skillful combination of traps and baits is it possible to catch the maximum number of bee swarms.
Among the baits, there are those that have long gained popularity among beekeepers and are considered the most effective.
Apiroy
Veterinary medicine intended for catching swarms during the period of swarming of bees in an apiary. Externally it is a white gel. The composition contains synthetic analogs of bee pheromones. There are no contraindications and side effects.
Components of the preparation Apira for bees:
- geranyl;
- citral;
- geranic acid;
- nerolic acid;
- 9-UEC;
- stabilizer Phenosan-43;
- phenylacetic acid methyl esters;
- phenyl esters of phenylpropanoic acid.
Field trials have confirmed that the drug has up to 50% more swarm attraction than many other counterparts. The drug acts on bees and attracts them to the scion.
Apply the drug as follows: 1 g of gel is applied to the scion along the entire circumference. The layer should be updated daily.
When using Apiroya in traps, you need to put 2 teaspoons of gel there. It is necessary to inspect the traps every two days.
The honey collected by processed bees can be used as food without restrictions. According to the instructions, you can open the jar of gel only immediately before application.
Store the drug in a dry, dark place with a temperature not exceeding + 25 ° C.
Uniroi
Another popular drug that is used to attract swarms and separate queens to bee colonies. The white gel contains synthetic attractants, as well as environmentally friendly natural fragrances.
When replanting a queen in a bee colony, it is necessary to treat her abdomen with a drop of honey and Unira. After processing, the uterus should be planted in the middle of the nesting frame.
If Uniroi is used to attract swarms, then it should be applied around the circumference of the scion to a width of 8 mm. Enough 1 g of the drug. When using traps, an internal application of 10 g at a time is suitable.
Store the drug in a dry and dark place for two years from the date of manufacture.
Apimil
This remedy for attracting swarms is prepared on the basis of pheromones of honey bees. Works great when swarming and helps to catch a swarm and settle it in an apiary. Prevents the swarm from going to another area.
At the very beginning of the swarming, the preparation in the amount of a third of a teaspoon is placed on the scion. It is necessary to update the bait every day until the swarming process has passed.
In traps, the bait is also applied to the inside. swarms... For this, 10 g of the drug is enough.
When a swarm is involved, the drug can be reused within 10 days. To prevent the swarm from flying off the hive, it is necessary to apply Apimil from the inside. Enough 1 g.
The bait is produced in plastic tubes. One package contains 35 g.
Sanroy
Sanroy comes in the form of cardboard strips that are impregnated with a specific substance. This substance is an attractant. Swarm lure has a pronounced attractive effect on honey bees.
It is used during the swarming period of bees, from about the end of June until the end of the summer season.
On the front walls of the traps, using simple buttons, it is enough to stick 2 Sanroy strips. Once the swarm is caught, it must be kept in a dark, cool room for several hours. And before the evening, you need to transplant the bees into permanent hives with honeycomb frames.
One pack contains 10 strips to attract swarms.
Conclusion
Using the bait Uniroi for bee swarms is a useful method not only for beginners, but also for experienced beekeepers. Making traps or grafting with your own hands is not difficult, but planting bees is more difficult. For this, it is important to choose the right place so that the scion is not too low or high from the ground. Special preparations based on pheromones will help attract bees and catch a swarm.
