Colder days coming mean inside projects:

An old-time beekeeper gave sage advice… “Never too early to plan for next year’s bees,” so along that vein, here is a website that shows exactly how to build a very successful swarm trap/swarm box.  The Result?  Free Bees!  I caught one myself last spring with this one, built by Bobby Dupree and Bill Farrell, and Etienne Nadeau of Eliz. City, who suggested this one to our group at a past meeting, has caught MANY with this type of box.

http://www.horizontalhive.com/how-to-build/swarm-trap-free-plans.shtml

While you are on that website, you might explore what a “horizontal hive” is all about… Like a top bar, you don’t have to remove heavy boxes to get to the brood chamber, but you utilize deep frames within, so less chance of cross-combing and sidewall comb supports to deal with.  I hope to build and try one of these horizontal hives for next year!

Do you have a favorite swarm trap of your own?  Please do share with the group!

Denise Deacon
252.722.3118