Lemongrass Oil for Honey Bees: How to Use This Natural Attractant

Lemongrass oil for bees is regularly promoted as a way of attracting bees to hives. Evidence suggests this works. We will take a closer look at how you can use lemongrass oil to benefit your beekeeping.

What Is Lemongrass

Lemongrass refers to a family of grasses with lemon-scented essential oils. These grasses contain a high concentration of terpenes in their stems which confer a lemon scent.

This is a picture of a very sad lemongrass clump growing in my garden. It got slightly frosted in winter but will recover with some help. I keep this plant for culinary purposes, making gin, and for my method of catching bees.

A Quick Introduction To Terpenes

Terpenes are volatile aromatic essential oil compounds that tend to have a scent that humans and other creatures can detect. Many plants produce these compounds both in their flowers to attract pollinators, and in many cases to defend themselves against insects, other animals, and diseases.

The result is that terpenes have a wide range of biological activities, and are an important part of our experience of this planet.

Some Of The Strongest Human Memories Are Attached To Smells

Think of walking in a pine forest, the sound of the wind in the treetops, and the scent of pines – that is the terpene pinene. Remember the first time you peeled an orange as a child – that strong orange peel smell – that was d-limonene. Freshly cracked pepper on your breakfast eggs -pinene, and caryophyllene. The list of terpenes with interesting scents goes on and on.

Terpenes and The Human Body

Significant amounts of research are being conducted globally finding more and more ways in which various terpenes can benefit human health. These compounds are generally biologically active and can enhance your mood, give feelings of calmness, health, and ability to sleep among other things.

Terpenes and Honey Bees

Bees have an incredible ability to detect various smells. This makes sense as their food source tends to have terpene odor markers to attract the bees. The bee antennae can detect small traces of terpenes and other aromatic compounds. This allows the bees to find flowers easily.

Honeybee Communication

The honeybee has a complex language in the hive. Some of this language comprises dances and vibrations. A lot of that language is however a scent language. Pheremones in honey bee hives are primarily scents of some or other sort, that have a communication effect. If you have been stung by a bee you know the banana smell that is in bee alarm pheromone.

Nasonov Glands and Terpenes

If you have smelt bees fanning to direct a swarm into a box you will have smelt the lemony citrus sort of smell that comes from the Nasonov gland. The Nasonov gland is used for a lot of communication both in swarming, on flowers, and in the hive. Nasonov pheromones contain terpenes. The dominant terpenoid components of Nasanov gland pheromones are geranic and nerolic acid, citral and geraniol.

Lemongrass contains myrcene, limonene, citral, geraniol, citronellol, geranyl acetate, neral, and nerol. There is a bit of overlap here with Nasanov gland pheromones.

Lemongrass Terpenes and Bees

As we can see by comparing the terpenes in Nasanov pheromone and Lemongrass there is some overlap. This has resulted in many people believing that in some way using lemongrass oil is like painting a billboard above a beehive saying “please move in”. There are many swarm attractants marketed that contain lemongrass oil. There are also homemade recipes that you can make which attract bees.

I think it is a bit optimistic to think that bees directly are attracted to Lemongrass oil and read it as one of their own pheromones. I think this would be similar to telling somebody that love is good and hence evil which contains nearly the same letters is the same word. Bees have very precise ratios of components of the volatile compounds they use to communicate which confer specific meanings.

Nevertheless, using lemongrass oil definitely speaks to the bees.

How We Can Use Lemongrass Oil With Honey Bees

The most effective use of lemongrass is as an attractant to bring swarms into catch or bait boxes. If you place a few bait boxes in an area where you expect swarms, you can place a few drops of lemongrass oil in the bait boxes to attract scouts to these boxes. Scouts will find the boxes and then this helps them bring the rest of the swarm. If you put too much lemongrass it will chase the scouts away.

In this regard, I have found that for my trap boxes a recipe that works really well is that I take a few sprigs of lemongrass from my clump. I then run these through a blender. In a separate area, I have a pot of water that is just below boiling. Into this pot, I place a smaller metal vessel (I use a large tin can).

Double Boiler To Prevent Fires

This is a double boiler – you never heat wax directly. The reason for this is that invariably you will get distracted while waiting for it to melt. Then you wander away and come back to your house/shed etc burning down. If you use a double boiler, you use water to limit the temperature to boiling point. This way you cannot heat beeswax to its flash point and it will not catch alight.

We use the double boiler to melt a half-pound of beeswax. If you have a bit of propolis throw this in as well. Right at the end, when everything is melted and mixed, throw the blended lemongrass paste into the mixer. If you do not have a blender, just chop it up finely, or grate it end on.

Bee Attractant Paint For Bait Boxes

Use this mixture of beeswax, propolis, and lemongrass plant matter to paint the inside of your bait boxes. Just a few dabs of paint near the entrance on the inside of the box and a small dab on the landing board.

I have had the experience once when I was putting catch boxes up in Eucalyptus trees that a swarm moved into a box baited like this as I was still attaching it to the tree. Most bizarre. I have spoken to beekeepers who catch thousands of swarms a year with boxes baited in this manner. This lure really works.

We hope this article has helped you understand how lemongrass oil for honey bees is a tool to attract swarms into your trap hives. It is fun to think that we can use plants to talk to insects! Spread widely if you enjoyed the tricks in this article.

Read more about: The Best Plants For Honey Production

Attracting Bees with Lemongrass Oil FAQs

What is lemongrass oil, and how does it relate to beekeeping?

Lemongrass oil is an essential oil derived from the lemongrass plant. Its natural citrus scent contains compounds similar to the pheromones bees use, making it an effective tool for attracting bee swarms to bait boxes.

Can lemongrass oil replace commercial swarm lures?

Yes, many beekeepers use lemongrass oil as a natural alternative to commercial swarm lures. Its similar chemical composition to Nasonov pheromones makes it effective at attracting scout bees looking for new hive locations.

How should I apply lemongrass oil to attract bees?

To use lemongrass oil, apply a few drops inside bait boxes, focusing near the entrance. Be cautious not to over-apply, as too much lemongrass oil can repel bees instead of attracting them.

How does lemongrass oil compare to Nasonov pheromone in attracting bees?

While lemongrass oil contains some of the same compounds as Nasonov pheromone, it doesn’t fully replicate its function. However, its similarity makes it an effective attractant for scout bees looking for new homes.

Can I make my own bee attractant using lemongrass?

Yes, you can create a homemade bee attractant by blending lemongrass plant matter and mixing it with melted beeswax and propolis. Use this mixture to paint the inside of your bait boxes for maximum effectiveness.

How much lemongrass oil should I use in a bait box?

A small amount—just a few drops—is sufficient. Overuse can overwhelm and repel bees, so it’s crucial to find the right balance to attract swarms effectively.

Is it safe to heat lemongrass oil for making bee bait?

When making bee bait with beeswax and lemongrass oil, use a double boiler to prevent fires. Never heat wax directly as it can catch fire easily if it reaches its flash point.

Does lemongrass oil work better in certain seasons?

Lemongrass oil is most effective during swarm season, typically in the spring and early summer when bees are naturally searching for new hive locations. Placing bait boxes with lemongrass oil during this time increases your chances of attracting swarms.

How long does the lemongrass oil scent last in a bait box?

The scent of lemongrass oil can last several weeks, depending on weather conditions. You may need to reapply periodically, especially after rain or high humidity, to keep the scent strong.

Can lemongrass oil attract other insects or animals to the bait box?

While lemongrass oil is primarily used to attract bees, its strong citrus scent may also attract other insects. However, its effect on non-bee species is generally minimal, making it a safe and targeted choice for beekeeping purposes.