Attraction and direct establishment of primary and secondary honey bee swarms using swarm-tissue sachets

Abstract

SummaryIn an effort to attract swarms within an apiary and to induce their direct establishment in hive-traps, we investigated the use of a new honey bee swarm attractant in the form of a small sachet containing a wet-wipe tissue, including geranic acid, citral, geraniol and rose oil as attractants. When swarm-tissues sachets were placed in hive traps at a distance of either 5 or 30m from the colonies, 60% of the swarms were established directly and permanently inside hive traps. All established swarms were secondary, headed by virgin queen(s). No primary swarm was attracted. When swarm-tissue sachets were placed in hive traps and were also hung in nearby tree branches, 90.9% of the swarms were attracted. Nine primary swarms formed clusters around the swarm attractant sachets while one secondary swarm was attracted and established directly in a hive trap.