Author Topic: Lemon Grass Oil (Read 5541 times)

Wandering Man · « **on:** January 23, 2017, 10:03:07 am »

Are there different kinds of lemon grass oil?

I'd placed an order with Mann Lake yesterday online. Reading someone else's thread about swarm traps reminded me that LGO is used as an attractant. I'm trying to get ready for possible Spring or late winter swarms, so I called Mann Lake this morning to add a bottle of their LGO to my order before it shipped out:

https://www.mannlakeltd.com/lemongrass-fragrance-oil

The lady on the phone told me that it is only to be used in making candles. It is not for the bees.

Please educate me. What do I buy, and how do I use it?

Bakersdozen · « **Reply #1 on:** January 23, 2017, 10:08:32 am »

I'm not sure what lemongrass product beekeepers use for luring swarms. Based upon what I read on this forum, I ordered Swarm Commander http://www.swarmcommander.com/ and had good results. It does dissipate and eventually has to be replaced.

Perry · « **Reply #2 on:** January 23, 2017, 10:37:43 am »

I just buy mine a the local health (essential oil) place, it's around $5 for a small bottle, but it has lasted me years. It does work. I posted a thread about spraying it on some frames in a box that I was going to hive a swarm way up in a tree in. I sprayed the frames to clear the nozzle so I could spray the actual swarm itself before I shook it. Before I had a chance the swarm broke off the tree and settled on the open box of frames.

It convinced me.

Mikey N.C. · « **Reply #3 on:** January 23, 2017, 08:04:54 pm »

I'm not that experienced, but from what I've heard lemon grass oil is basically just as good. A qtip swab right ?

Perry · « **Reply #4 on:** January 23, 2017, 08:19:52 pm »

Quote from: Mikey N.C. on January 23, 2017, 08:04:54 pm

I'm not that experienced, but from what I've heard lemon grass oil is basically just as good. A qtip swab right ?

Wandering Man · « **Reply #5 on:** January 23, 2017, 10:14:42 pm »

Well, I had a free moment after 13's post, so now I've got a bottle of swarm commander on the way. Sound as like the $5 bottle of candle scent would have done the job for less.

tefer2 · « **Reply #6 on:** January 25, 2017, 09:21:17 pm »

http://www.lorannoils.com/
Ask for the beekeepers discount

Bakersdozen · « **Reply #7 on:** January 26, 2017, 08:17:11 am »

Hope I didn't waste your money, Wandering Man. I use the Swarm Commander and as I stated, it was recommended on this forum. The important thing is to have good results.

I think the SC lure smells like lemon grass and the scent lasts for a couple of weeks. I tried lemon grass oil once and didn't have any luck. Perhaps I wasn't using it properly.

Wandering Man · « **Reply #8 on:** January 26, 2017, 08:44:12 am »

Bakers,

I don't see it as a waste. I'm giving myself the best possible chance.

There have been many choices and many purchases, and many changes of plans since wife and I started this journey.

Wife just read to me out her journal where we went to Lowes last year gathering ideas for a hive stand, and then called to change our order from package bees to a nuc. We later changed the order from one to two.

Perry · « **Reply #9 on:** January 26, 2017, 09:37:37 am »

Quote from: Wandering Man on January 26, 2017, 08:44:12 am

Bakers,

I don't see it as a waste. I'm giving myself the best possible chance.

There have been many choices and many purchases, and many changes of plans since wife and I started this journey.

Wife just read to me out her journal where we went to Lowes last year gathering ideas for a hive stand, and then called to change our order from package bees to a nuc. We later changed the order from one to two.

And both of those changes are exactly what I would have done.

sc-bee · « **Reply #10 on:** February 08, 2017, 08:21:19 pm »

Quote from: Wandering Man on January 23, 2017, 10:03:07 am

Are there different kinds of lemon grass oil?

I'd placed an order with Mann Lake yesterday online. Reading someone else's thread about swarm traps reminded me that LGO is used as an attractant. I'm trying to get ready for possible Spring or late winter swarms, so I called Mann Lake this morning to add a bottle of their LGO to my order before it shipped out:

https://www.mannlakeltd.com/lemongrass-fragrance-oil

The lady on the phone told me that it is only to be used in making candles. It is not for the bees.

Please educate me. What do I buy, and how do I use it?

I would take it she was referring to not be used for candy or in lip balms or in feed syrup.... For swarm traps it was fine.

Wandering Man · « **Reply #11 on:** February 08, 2017, 09:02:07 pm »

Thanks sc-bee.

Barbarian · « **Reply #12 on:** February 09, 2017, 03:48:17 am »

I obtained my LGO from a stall on the local market. It was sold as part of a display stand of fragrances to use in an oil burner.

It came in 10ml bottles. Dirt cheap at 3 bottles for £1. They have lasted me for ages.

riverbee · « **Reply #13 on:** February 11, 2017, 06:55:50 pm »

amazon.........
if you are a prime member free shipping......

Lemon Grass Oil
a swab is all you need.

and also, what perry said...

Wandering Man · « **Reply #14 on:** February 11, 2017, 07:04:39 pm »

Thanks.

I was wondering if I could just spray a little bit of Johnson's Lemon Pledge?

Maybe wax the bottom a bit?

CBT · « **Reply #15 on:** February 11, 2017, 10:24:03 pm »

I stuff a cotton ball into a drinking straw and put some lemongrass on it. Cut it about 2 inches long and put in bait hive. In the straw it lasts a lot longer.

Green bee · « **Reply #16 on:** February 11, 2017, 11:26:03 pm »

Quote from: CBT on February 11, 2017, 10:24:03 pm

I stuff a cotton ball into a drinking straw and put some lemongrass on it. Cut it about 2 inches long and put in bait hive. In the straw it lasts a lot longer.

that's a good idea CBT , I'll try to retain that in the ole hard drive in my head for future use

tedh · « **Reply #17 on:** February 12, 2017, 07:50:55 pm »

Thanks Riverbee, I just ordered some.

riverbee · « **Reply #18 on:** February 12, 2017, 09:15:01 pm »

you are welcome ted.
i usually use the lemongrass oil for hiving swarms vs attracting them. the oil in conjunction with using a spray like fischers bee quick or another one from scott derrick, hmm have to look at the name of this stuff........?

the container, typically a hive body for me but have used a cardboard box; swab the entrance and/or the inside (you don't need much) with the lemongrass oil. dump the swarm in from wherever; for me it usually is off a tree branch, vines.......etc........spray the fishers bee quick so the bees won't come back to the branch/limb/vine. the lemongrass oil in conjunction with the fischers bee quick seems to make hiving a swarm go quicker.

vvand111 · « **Reply #19 on:** February 15, 2017, 09:27:23 pm »

Great info as I am planning on putting out 4 traps next week end.

Lburou · « **Reply #20 on:** February 15, 2017, 10:35:08 pm »

A thorough explanation of known details about honey bee colony preferences whilst swarming is here. Detailed description of the known requirements for selecting a new nest site are described in that pdf by Dr. Tom Seeley, et. al. of Cornell University. HTH

P.S. I have used both LGO and Swarm Commander to lure swarms. They both work...Swarm Commander is too expensive, but it works better by a considerable margin in my neighborhood. HTH

Zweefer · « **Reply #21 on:** February 17, 2017, 11:26:18 pm »

Nice to see you Lburou! As always you come with great information. Thanks.