Swarm - Need Help Luring Queen Into Box

[Jen]

Yesterday afternoon a swarm ensued and landed on one of my cedars up on the bank. I knocked the swarm into a cooler, propped the lid open for air. Wasn't able to bring swarm to my yard by evening but checked it by dark and all was well except the there is a football size spread of bees on the ground near the cooler that wouldn't go into the cooler. Cooler was bated with a frame of old wax and a tissue with a drop of lemongrass oil. So before bed I fashioned a box with old comb and one drop of lemongrass oil, placed it right up against the bees. The bees won't go into it, I think the queen might be in this clump. The bees are entwined in a leaves and grass, how can I get them captured?

[Mikey N.C.]

Jen,
Does anyone in your bee club have a bee-vac ?

[Jen]

I think I might know of someone, but it would be late after noon before he could get it here. If there is a queen they will take flight by then. Good idea tho.... let me check with him

[Mikey N.C.]

Jen,
I'm not that experienced with swarms. Did you have any swarm boxes setup?  I'm a new beek , I've caught about 8-9 swarms . Most swarms know where they're going, and from what I've learned is they will stage for  a while , then move on to new box or tree.  So lets hope bees move into your box.

[riverbee]

great pix jen!

leaves and grass and a pile of bees.....
sometimes hard to go pokin' around in there looking for a queen.
this is what i use, i have several plastic scoops made out of round gallon & half gallon jugs.  even a square milk jug, gallon or 1/2 gallon.
you can fashion these to make a scoop out of them or you can even use a plastic scoop for feed, like for filling bird feeders.
just start scooping them into your box, and while you are scooping, keep an eye out for her. if you get the queen in, the rest will follow.
you can also hand scoop them a bit as well.

hope this helps?  scooped a lot of bees out of grass and weeds!

give us an update when you can!

[Les]

I agree, keep us updated....great pics

[Riverrat]

another option I have uses to gather bees on the ground is place a frame of drawn comb next to the cluster.  Usually they will climb onto the comb.  once frame is full of bees shake into the hive and repeat. 

[rober]

that 1st swarm I got the other day was in the grass. I found the queen, caught her in a queen clip, & put her in an EZ nuc box ( still in the clip) & they all marched into the box. if you can't find the queen do as river suggested & put a frame of comb next to them. I watched a guy catch a swarm that was up about 30' on a branch by throwing a rope over the branch next to the swarm. he used the rope to raise a frame of comb up to the swarm & they climbed aboard. when it was full he lowered it & shook the bees into a nuc box & raised it again. it took a about 8 times to get them all.

[Jen]

Rober, now that would be fun to watch, like get a pic-a-nic blanket and basket up a lunch and a couple beers and let someone else do all the work  Great idea tho