08/24/2026
Swarm Trap at Circle Pond Tiny Community.
I install swarm traps at all four of my apiaries to catch my or passing swarms. This trap was located at the Circle Pond Tiny Community Apiary in Ruskin which caught a passing swarm that did not originate from my hives. My swarm-traps include five deep well-waxed frames and are baited with swarm commander or lemongrass essential oil.
The Circle Pond residents all have my number and will call me if they see any unusual honeybee activity or notice honeybees moving into the swarm trap. One resident has a direct view of the swarm trap from her tiny home and gave me a quick heads-up.
During my next visit I confirmed the swarm trap was active, and the honeybees were building comb inside the trap. I checked my local hives to determine if the honeybees were mine or a passing swarm. My hive populations were still high, so the honeybees in the swarm-trap were probably feral or from another domestic source. I then set up the swarm-trap for quick removal by loosening and removing some straps and returned after dark (when the honeybees would be inside the hive) and quickly sealed up the swarm trap and removed it from the tree. I brought a freshly baited replacement swarm-trap with me and immediately hung it up.
The honeybees spent the night in my truck and early the next morning they were taken to the Lithia Springs Farm Apiary and transferred into a regular beehive.
When honeybees are moved, you must move the hive less than three feet or more than 3 miles (following the 3 Feet or 3 Mile Rule). Honeybees will reorient to a new location greater than 3 miles away or find their hive if moved less than three feet. For example, if you move a hive more than 3 feet or less than 3 miles, honeybees will return to and fly around the old location and probably perish.
I have two types of Swarm-Traps, the commercial plastic version, brand name “Interceptor” and my modified regular wood NUC box. The plastic box is extra-deep, comes with hanging straps, snap on door, and tree spikes I never use. It holds five deep frames with several inches of space left under the frames. My NUC box has a homemade bottom board adding about 4 inches of space under the frames and space for my quick closure wheel. It sits on a homemade “L” shaped frame which is used to attached it to trees, walls, etc.
The pictures have captions explaining the action.
Sam's Honey Bees
