Swarm Commander – 59mL / 2 oz

Give scout bees another reason to investigate your bait hive with Swarm Commander, a concentrated swarm attractant designed to imitate the scent signals honey bees naturally use when identifying colony locations.

Available from Hornsby Beekeeping Supplies in a 59mL / 2 oz bottle, Swarm Commander uses a blend of oils formulated to mimic the Nasonov pheromone. Honey bees release this pheromone as a communication signal, particularly when helping other bees locate a hive entrance, water source or suitable gathering point.

Prepare Bait Hives Before Swarm Season

The bottle is fitted with a high-mist sprayer, making it simple to apply a light treatment inside a prepared bait hive or swarm trap.

Around four sprays are sufficient to keep a hive baited for approximately 7–10 days under normal conditions. With at least 100 applications available from one 59mL bottle, a single container can be used repeatedly throughout the swarm season or across multiple bait-hive locations.

Swarm Commander is made in the USA and is designed as an attractant rather than a guarantee that bees will occupy a particular hive. Bait-hive volume, location, shade, height, nearby colony activity and existing comb scent can all influence how attractive a potential nest site appears to scout bees.

When attempting to catch a swarm from your own apiary, positioning the bait hive some distance away from the parent colony can be useful. A distance of approximately 150–200 metres provides separation while still keeping the bait site within the surrounding area where scout bees may locate it.

Apply the spray to your prepared hive and refresh the treatment as required rather than over-applying the product. It can be used alongside other suitable swarm-catching equipment such as nuc boxes and swarm catchers.

Buying Options:

• One 59mL / 2 oz bottle
• High-mist sprayer included
• At least 100 applications

Preparing bait hives before colonies begin issuing swarms means you are ready when scout activity increases rather than trying to assemble equipment after the bees have already left.

Add Swarm Commander to your swarm-season setup from Hornsby Beekeeping Supplies. For advice on bait hives, swarm catchers or nuc equipment, contact 02 9477 5569 or info@hornsby-beekeeping.com.