Worldwide Beekeeping

Beekeeping => Swarms, Cut Outs, Trap Outs and Bee Trees => Topic started by: Mikey N.C. on December 25, 2015, 02:36:55 pm

Title: Feral bees
Post by: Mikey N.C. on December 25, 2015, 02:36:55 pm
Have a wild hive in a tree that we're going to try an do some trap outs,this spring. Homeowner has been there 7 1/2 yrs. bees were their when he bought the house, my question is how can wild bees not be affected by SHB,MITES,VIRUSES ect. ???
Title: Re: Feral bees
Post by: Riverrat on December 25, 2015, 03:25:02 pm
They havent had human intervention ;)
Title: Re: Feral bees
Post by: tefer2 on December 25, 2015, 04:19:03 pm
New swarm every spring!
Title: Re: Feral bees
Post by: Mikey N.C. on December 25, 2015, 04:20:41 pm
HeHeHe  don't tell nobody 8)
Title: Re: Feral bees
Post by: Mikey N.C. on December 25, 2015, 04:59:31 pm
I understand they swarm every yr. If not no human contact, then mites ,shb,viruses ect. Would kill them off rite ??? If that seems to be our problem?? Keeping them in a box??
Title: Re: Feral bees
Post by: Riverrat on December 25, 2015, 05:06:02 pm
I understand they swarm every yr. If not no human contact, then mites ,shb,viruses ect. Would kill them off rite ??? If that seems to be our problem?? Keeping them in a box??

When mites came onto the scene it wiped out about ever feral hive in the United States.  Over time and years later they made a comeback.  Its been found that bees over a period of time will  deal with the mites and other problems on there own with better results than the hives being treated.  Bees in the wild will swarm at least once a year.  This breaks the brood cycle and helps with mites naturally.  The hives living in the wild also have a smaller opening to defend and are able to better keep SHB and other pest out. Nobody knows the bees better than the bees  themselves.  And with that said that includes the salesman trying to sell you pesticides and other doohickeys to make a buck :)
Title: Re: Feral bees
Post by: Mikey N.C. on December 25, 2015, 05:39:27 pm
Thanks riverrat for info, an understand ,I'm just trying to learn more about the behavior of all bees, in Africa they use tbh only to collect honey(because they're aggressive) but bees move on,is it that we're using them for agriculture purpose or trying to have a hobby?? And don't get me wrong I've got bee fever, just trying to learn
Title: Re: Feral bees
Post by: Ray on December 26, 2015, 12:51:56 am
It's quite possible that feral hive has died out several times and been replaced by a swarm as needed.
I hope I'm wrong and you get some great genetics with your trap out.

Title: Re: Feral bees
Post by: apisbees on December 26, 2015, 01:06:50 am
bees
Title: Re: Feral bees
Post by: caesarsfish on December 26, 2015, 05:03:51 am
I have a couple feral hives that I caught in swarm traps.  I kinda leave them to their selves.  I have never had a mite problem with these bees but I do treat all my  hives twice a year.  These bees are smaller,  darker, and  meaner but they love to make honey.
Title: Re: Feral bees
Post by: Mikey N.C. on December 26, 2015, 09:16:33 am
Thanks for the info
Title: Re: Feral bees
Post by: Mikey N.C. on December 30, 2015, 04:31:32 pm
Yea, I finally read iddee trapout post,got all the info I think I'll need will probably still have questions. Thanks iddee for such a informative post