scout bees at swarm trap 2023

From mid-February to early March, Atlanta's maximum temperatures were warmer than expected. On February 21st, the high temperature was 21°F above maximum normals (1991-2020).   

On March 7th, pollen counts soared to 3937 - outdoor surfaces were covered with yellow pollen (pine, oak, sweet gum, hackberry, and birch).    Walking the dog, I discovered bees (mining, carpenter, and European honey) visiting crabapple tree flowers on my street - thanks to Trees Atlanta.

I set 4 hanging swarm traps on 3 properties in my neighborhood, each with: 

• UV-reactive blue swarm trap entrance
• synthetically produced Nasonov pheromone

2 of these traps are on my property and conveniently located where I can watch the swarm trap entrance and the behavior of scout bees from a window. See the video and read page 62 of Honeybee Democracy describing scout bees.

So far, the traps did not attract a swarm - my swarm trap hopes rest with a return to more normal temperatures after this week of frigid spring weather.