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semiautonomous Guard Bee

Joined: 30 Dec 2013 Posts: 51 Location: England, Shropshire, Shrewsbury
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Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2014 3:24 pm Post subject: First attempt at a bait hive |
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I've just finished my htbh and now looking at making some bait hives. I have a bunch of old pallet wood but was worried about how heavy it was going to be. Then I remembered about some big sheets of cardboard I had saved from a furniture delivery. So I knocked this up over the last few days.
The hole 'trough' part is made purely of cardboard glued together, and then a wooden frame around the top to support the top bars and give the hole thing some rigidity.
Not sure if its going to work, but I thought it was worth a try. Now just thinking about making it a bit more waterproof, maybe a coat of linseed oil? I will probably make one out of wood as well but this was so much easier.
Last edited by semiautonomous on Fri Mar 07, 2014 6:19 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Garret Golden Bee

Joined: 04 Apr 2009 Posts: 1681 Location: Canada, BC, Delta
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Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2014 4:24 pm Post subject: |
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Nice! They should work just fine. The only negative I see is that they won't weather very well without some kind of protection which it sounds like you are looking into. |
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J Smith Foraging Bee
Joined: 13 Jan 2014 Posts: 169 Location: New Zealand, South Island, Southland, Riversdale.
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Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2014 7:50 pm Post subject: |
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I agree, neat idea- but I worry the card my soak up moisture like a sponge, even ambient moisture- not just rain.
I would be tempted to coat the card in "poor man's varnish" made from waterproof (exterior grade) PVA wood glue mixed with water to a runny paint-able consistency.
This would not add much weight, would add some degree of waterproofing and rigidity.
Over here we have Real Estate signs made from plastic Cora-Flute material, the plastic version of corrugated cardboard, it is also used for things like conservatory roofs. If you can find some of that in the form of damaged and no longer needed signs or off cuts from a conservatory installer it can be used in a similar way to make bait hives. |
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rmcpb Scout Bee

Joined: 17 Jul 2011 Posts: 447 Location: Blue Mountains, NSW, Australia
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Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2014 9:04 pm Post subject: |
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That plastic corrugated board makes great lids for hives as well. |
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Bugscouter Silver Bee

Joined: 19 Mar 2012 Posts: 808 Location: USA/California/ Sacramento
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Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2014 11:48 pm Post subject: |
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I was wondering about the girls chewing on the cardboard. You would need to check it often.
I hefted an 18 inch top bar nuc 10 feet up a wall for a trap out last year. I like the idea of lighter. |
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J Smith Foraging Bee
Joined: 13 Jan 2014 Posts: 169 Location: New Zealand, South Island, Southland, Riversdale.
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Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2014 12:48 am Post subject: |
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How about wrapping the exterior in layers of 2" fabric duct tape?
If started from the bottom, each subsequent layer slightly overlapping the lower layer, it should keep the card somewhat waterproofed, add little in the way of weight and be easily applied.
Interior chewing might still be a problem, but they might stop chewing when they hit the tape, thus leaving a complete (if somewhat weakened) enclosure. |
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semiautonomous Guard Bee

Joined: 30 Dec 2013 Posts: 51 Location: England, Shropshire, Shrewsbury
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Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2014 2:35 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for all the replies
I hadn't thought about the bees chewing up the cardboard, thanks for the heads up. I'm not too mobile so at least at first I'm just going to be putting these in friends gardens, so I'm hoping I will get to hear about them before the bees have a chance to do too much damage. How quickly do you think they mite get through? I like the duct tape idea, would be a simple solution. Another idea I had was lining the inside with a layer of plastic, do you think that would discourage them?
J Smith, I'd love to get my hands on some of that corrugated plastic sheeting, its used in for sale signs here too. I had looked at buying some but it looked pretty expensive. I will have to keep an eye out for any going spare. |
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WileyHunter Moderator Bee
Joined: 13 Jan 2014 Posts: 125 Location: Batesville, IN USA
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Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2014 3:58 pm Post subject: |
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Check with political offices... Candidates usually buy way more than they need for their race, and need to do something with them afterwards. I have a pretty decent stash from when my b-i-l ran for schoolboard, we use them as targets  |
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trekmate Golden Bee

Joined: 30 Nov 2009 Posts: 1137 Location: UK, North Yorkshire, Bentham
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Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2014 4:40 pm Post subject: |
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semiautonomous wrote: | J Smith, I'd love to get my hands on some of that corrugated plastic sheeting, its used in for sale signs here too. I had looked at buying some but it looked pretty expensive. I will have to keep an eye out for any going spare. |
Ask you local estate agent who puts up their signs. Some are damaged by wind near to the post and unusable, but still have a good usable area. |
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H1veHead Nurse Bee
Joined: 19 May 2013 Posts: 28 Location: Child Okeford, Dorset, UK.
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Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2014 10:48 pm Post subject: |
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Hi everyone.
First can I say that your bait hive looks really well-made and good photos too semiautonomous.
Seeing it has brought back to my mind a question that maybe someone can help me with?
I built my first bait hive last year. I built it in exactly the same way as a full hTBH using Phil's instructions, but I made it smaller - about 35-40 litres - and without legs of course.
I positioned it on the roof of a two-storey building and discovered just how awkward it was to get up the ladder!
I had thought about building it from lighter/thinner wood, but I reasoned that although I know that it was just a bait hive, the bees wouldn't know that.
So here's my question - wouldn't a swarm (or the scout bees anyway) be looking for a new permanent home and therefore (being the clever little mathematicians and engineers that they are) wouldn't they reject a bait hive made from thin/light material due to it's being less substantial and lacking in sufficient qualities for, for example, over-wintering?
Sorry for the long-winded question but I hope you see what I'm thinking.
Thanks in advance for any help!
H1veHead |
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CeeBee Foraging Bee
Joined: 16 Jun 2013 Posts: 107 Location: UK, Cambridge, Milton
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Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2014 11:26 pm Post subject: |
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H1veHead wrote: |
...So here's my question - wouldn't a swarm (or the scout bees anyway) be looking for a new permanent home and therefore (being the clever little mathematicians and engineers that they are) wouldn't they reject a bait hive made from thin/light material due to it's being less substantial and lacking in sufficient qualities for, for example, over-wintering?
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In general, I hate replies which are just someone's opinion, with no evidence. But I'm not a scout bee, so I've no idea. My opinion is that this will be way beyond what they might consider - it would take a lot of evolution for failures (a long time after occupation) to be associated with flimsy materials and lack of insulation - they might have thrived (and swarmed) before it even happens.
We'll see about the square plastic flower-pot which is now in my apple tree. As of this morning, it smelled like hot plastic (even though it's many years old), with a hint of lemongrass (essential oil I applied). Hopefully the apple tree will soon grow some leaves, and at least the 'hot' problem will go away... I've got another 3 the same to put in suitable-seeming places. |
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biobee Site Admin

Joined: 14 Jun 2007 Posts: 1063 Location: UK, England, S. Devon
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Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2014 12:14 am Post subject: |
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I had a swarm move into a polystyrene packing case a couple of summers ago. They then proceeded to chew through the sides, making several new entrances and eventually causing the box itself to collapse. It is now supported by a plastic crate that happens to fit over the box.
So no, they don't seem to be quite as technically advanced as one might think, and I'm pretty sure the thickness of material will not play a big part in their calculations, especuially when you consider that they have been known to move into old tyres, discarded fuel tanks and other motley cavities. |
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H1veHead Nurse Bee
Joined: 19 May 2013 Posts: 28 Location: Child Okeford, Dorset, UK.
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Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2014 11:59 am Post subject: |
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Yes, the evidence speaks for itself of course! Thanks for the clarification chaps. Off I now go to build some nice, lightweight, bait hives ready for the swarming season!
HiveHead. |
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catchercradle Golden Bee

Joined: 31 May 2010 Posts: 1551 Location: Cambridge, UK
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Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2014 12:08 pm Post subject: |
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Whether the chewing of the cardboard is a problem or not depends on how regularly you check your bait hives. If you can be sure to move them to a full sized hive the same day no problem. If you may have to keep them there for a week or more while you build them a new home............ not so good. |
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BridgetB Scout Bee
Joined: 12 Jul 2010 Posts: 358 Location: UK Cornwall, Falmouth
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Posted: Tue Mar 22, 2016 10:36 am Post subject: Flower pot swarm trap/bait hives |
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I am looking to build some bait hive from square flower pots. The top bars fit over nicely, but what do people do to stop them slipping off and what about the lid? What experience have people had with them? |
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Barbara Site Admin
Joined: 27 Jul 2011 Posts: 1857 Location: England/Co.Durham/Ebchester
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Posted: Tue Mar 22, 2016 2:34 pm Post subject: |
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Hi Bridget
If these are the plastic square planters, make sure you put good drainage holes covered in mesh in the lowest part of them. The plastic doesn't breath and a lot of condensation collects in the bottom and puddles. Debris from the swarm above... pollen wax flakes dead bees etc fall into the puddles and start to rot.... flies get attracted to the stinking mess and lay eggs and soon it's an extremely unpleasant situation. Having said that I know of one colony that moved into such a hive as a swarm and has overwintered in it, even with a stinking mess in the bottom. Drainage holes were drilled but were too small for the moisture to run out before decomposing matter clogged them.
I think the cardboard is a reasonable idea, especially if you can get triple layer cardboard and paint it with molten bees wax inside and out. I made a temporary sign for my yard gate like this and it survived for months completely exposed to the elements.
Good luck with baiting a swarm.
Barbara |
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mefgbee Guard Bee
Joined: 10 Jul 2014 Posts: 58 Location: UK, Cheltenham
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Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2016 11:45 am Post subject: Re: Flower pot swarm trap/bait hives |
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BridgetB wrote: | I am looking to build some bait hive from square flower pots. The top bars fit over nicely, but what do people do to stop them slipping off and what about the lid? What experience have people had with them? |
Hi Bridget,
Last year I collected a swarm in a square flower pot. I placed standard top bars on the top, and secured them with tape to stop them sliding around in the car. For a roof I used a 600x600mm slate I had lying around. This was weighted down but the rain did seem to wick under. So a couple of days later I placed a spare roof on top of the slate and that shed water better. See the pictures below.
Like Barbara says, there will be condensation. When I eventually got around to moving the bees into a wooden bait hive after a week or so (I had wanted to leave them as long as possible before disturbing) I was amazed how much water was in the bottom, and some bees had drowned. So definitely drill holes in the bottom.
My feelings were that the plastic pot is really only good as a temporary (a few days maybe) measure. Great for swarm catching as it's light, but cold and damp probably for the bees as the sides are so thin.
Mike
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