If you want to increase your chance of successfully attracting a swarm, you can add an attractant to your bait hive. Lemongrass is very similar to the queen bee’s scent. Honeybees find the mixture of lemongrass and beeswax irresistible.
Lemongrass Swarm Lure Recipe
Yield: 3 ounces
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons beeswax
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 40 drops (2 milliliters) lemongrass essential oil
Directions
- Make a double boiler using a tin can. Melt the beeswax and olive oil together in the can, over medium heat. Remove from the heat.
- Add the lemongrass essential oil. Stir the mixture while it cools, just until it begins to thicken. Pour into a 4-ounce tin. Allow the lure to cool.
To use
- Smear one tablespoon of the swarm lure at the back of the hive box.
- Set the hive box in the shade, raised above the ground where it is dry.
- Wait for the bees to swarm. You just might get lucky
5 Comments
I do something simular, but forgoe the olive oil. This gives a hard wax block that can be placed in the hive, or used as a “crayon” to coat a surface. A little more versatile than paste…and its easy to keep a few in the car for surprise swarms.
What if I use the wax block like a crayon and rub it on a fresh supper or 2 . Then place it in my swarm box. Would that be ok?
When you say to smear it at the back of the hive box do you mean on the back of the box outside or on the inside?
Thanks for the great articles!
When you say to smear it at the back of the hive box do you mean on the back of the box outside or on the inside?
Thanks for the great articles!
Debbie
How long does this lure last? Thanks