Natural Beekeeping International Forum

[ValBee]

I heard about the pest of bees in autumn and mice being an issue. I heard that bees will abscond and abandon a hive if they can smell a mouse. so this sounds like a possible way to avoid a cut out or trap out. If it can be tested via mouse smell/ develop liquid or essence or droppings maybe could be inserted into a hive and maybe the bees will leave. Has anyone tried this idea, any thoughts on this. May be a good way to get bees to abandon a poor nest site quickly without killing them.

[Barbara]

Hi

My experience with bees and mice is that they find the smell of mouse habitation and urine in particular very alluring. I have had two lots of swarm scout bees fighting over a hive that had died out and was occupied by a mouse, which I had to very quickly evict, prior to a huge prime swarm arriving. The hive stunk of mouse urine but the bees moved in and thrived.

Also, bumble bees very often occupy abandoned mouse nests in the ground, so I'm not sure where you got the info from that the smell of mice might be a repellent to bees.

That's just my experience though.

Regards

Barbara

[ValBee]

That's interesting, I got it from the basic assessment notes of pests and robbers. I am interested in others experiences, if this is not true that's good to know.

I had some mice in my garden, but the hives not been bothered yet.

[trekmate]

In parts of Africa they bait hives with human urine!

I'll be sticking to lemongrass oil.....