Assessment of advanced lures through gel and spray application for the attraction of honey bee swarms

Abstract

Swarm control is of major importance to beekeepers worldwide. Many techniques and manipulations have been applied to try to decrease the swarming tendencies of colonies, attract swarms, and catch swarms as they leave their hives. The attractiveness of three different lures, based on a blend of attractive substances, is described and assessed: a paraffin gel and spray applications in two doses, are compared to evaluate their attractiveness to primary and secondary swarms. A total of 76 of 81 swarms (93.82%) were attracted by the lures; the gel application being the most effective, attracting 69.13% of all the swarms.