swarm traps (bait hives) with UV-reactive blue entrance

 

Impact of UV-Induced Blue Florescence Entrances concludes:

• UV-reactive blue swarm trap entrances nearly doubled the number of scout bees observed over the control
• Swarms selected the trap with the UV-blue entrance over the control 100% of the time

 method and materials:

• conducted from May to August in 2020 and 2021 in western New York
• 1.25 inch (3.2 cm) circular entrance hole
  
• 1.59 cubic ft (45 liter) cavity volume
• 4 frames without comb + 1 frame with some comb
  
• attached to a tree at a height of 8-10 feet
• 3 locations facing an open field with bee forage
• 2 traps per location 200 feet apart with a 3D printed trap entrance using 1) UV-reactive blue filament or 2) white filament (control)
  
• swarm lure spray applied weekly
• weather permitting, 1 location included scout bee counting between 11:30am-4:00pm
  

 

	Scout Bee Activity Logged	Trap Selected
Year 1 - 2020
Location 1	Yes	UV-reactive blue
Location 2		UV-reactive blue
Location 3		UV-reactive blue
Year 2 - 2021 (traps swapped)
Location 1	Yes	UV-reactive blue
Location 2		none
Location 3		UV-reactive blue