Author Topic: 1st swarm of the year (Read 12858 times)

rcannon · « **on:** March 11, 2014, 08:37:38 pm »

Missed one, caught one.
The wife called about lunch time, said a swarm was hanging on the neighbors mailbox, but I was a long way from home. Missed that one.
Just before I left work, the boss called and told me to come get this swarm before all the office ladies had a stroke. It was about 3 lbs. I didn't have any equipment with me, so I put them in an empty printer paper box and brought them home. That's the first of the year for me.

blueblood · « **Reply #1 on:** March 11, 2014, 08:46:10 pm »

Awesome! And........where are the photos?

rcannon · « **Reply #2 on:** March 11, 2014, 08:51:02 pm »

I didn't take any pictures, but I think some of the people watching did. I'll try to get them and post tomorrow.

Jen · « **Reply #3 on:** March 11, 2014, 09:08:59 pm »

Nice! free bees and somebody to take care of them. Woot!

LazyBkpr · « **Reply #4 on:** March 11, 2014, 09:22:00 pm »

SSweeet!!! I am READY!! wait.. its snowing..... :'(

rrog13 · « **Reply #5 on:** March 11, 2014, 09:35:16 pm »

Quote from: LazyBkpr on March 11, 2014, 09:22:00 pm

wait.. its snowing..... :'(

Snowing.......I don't know how you do it. I couldn't imagine.

I've been seeing a lot of activity around the 3 bait hives I've got out. It's nice to see bees flying and blooms on the way.

LazyBkpr · « **Reply #6 on:** March 11, 2014, 10:42:44 pm »

Quote from: rrog13 on March 11, 2014, 09:35:16 pm

Snowing.......I don't know how you do it. I couldn't imagine.

It gets annoying about this time of year.... no, who am I kidding? It was annoying once Christmas was over. It is nice to be snug and warm in my workshop making bee stuff.. but not 5 months worth of nice.

JanO · « **Reply #7 on:** March 11, 2014, 11:44:02 pm »

I gotta agree with you on that one. I'm more than ready for swarms to show up here too.

rcannon · « **Reply #8 on:** March 12, 2014, 08:19:31 pm »

This was a fairly small swarm, but bees are bees, right?

LazyBkpr · « **Reply #9 on:** March 12, 2014, 09:00:19 pm »

DLMKA · « **Reply #10 on:** March 12, 2014, 10:47:30 pm »

phew, glad I'm not the only one that scoops them up bare hands without a veil.....

Nice work! I'm getting the itch. Afraid there won't be many swarms this year after this winter. Checked on a couple bee trees that I knew about last summer and no activity :(

LazyBkpr · « **Reply #11 on:** March 13, 2014, 12:09:37 am »

That is my fear as well DLMKA.. Supposed to be in the mid 50's here tomorrow, so going to go take a look at the ones I can get to.

electroman277 · « **Reply #12 on:** March 13, 2014, 07:57:36 am »

Nice pictures rcannon. I have 2 bait hives out and a package on order to replace the hive I lost this winter. I have an itch and I can't scratch it right now :'(. I think I might just open the hive just to look in and imagine.

LazyBkpr · « **Reply #13 on:** March 13, 2014, 09:47:39 am »

LOL!!! Print a picture of some bees, record the buzzing, you'll be good till they arrive!
Best thing.. No stings!!!

G3farms · « **Reply #14 on:** March 13, 2014, 09:51:31 am »

Did you look around to see if you could find where they came from. Some times you will find the parent hive not too far away.

Good catch!

blueblood · « **Reply #15 on:** March 13, 2014, 12:55:34 pm »

Yeap, G3, didn't we talk about that one time before and determined the parent hive would be within 100 feet or so?

Slowmodem · « **Reply #16 on:** March 13, 2014, 02:18:31 pm »

Quote from: blueblood on March 13, 2014, 12:55:34 pm

Yeap, G3, didn't we talk about that one time before and determined the parent hive would be within 100 feet or so?

So if I want to be ready in case one of my hives swarm, what would be a good distance for a hive to be used as a swarm trap (or is there a minimum distance)?

LazyBkpr · « **Reply #17 on:** March 13, 2014, 02:39:47 pm »

I have READ that bees like to move away from the parent hive a ways... but I have also watched a swarm from my fathers tree move into a 20 gallon barrel about 75 feet from the parent colony... I removed a colony from a water tank I assumed came from the same tree from an old water tank about 75 yards from the tree... I can only guess here.. but I would say they will look for the BEST place they can find, near or far.. Personally, I like being a bit further away.. Watching some of the swarm studies with bait hives on an island.. it looked like they were 3/4 of a mile away or more, and the bees found every one of them..
I think wherever you place the box they will find it, barring perhaps heavy brush they cant fly in.. what remains is if they will CHOOSE your box over another location.

Slowmodem · « **Reply #18 on:** March 13, 2014, 02:48:10 pm »

What would be easiest is if they'd move into an empty hive in the bee yard so no movement is necessary. I doubt I could be that lucky.

G3farms · « **Reply #19 on:** March 13, 2014, 04:43:06 pm »

Minimum and maximum distance is a good question for sure. Kind of like fishing, do you drop the hook at your feet or cast it as far as you can. Have seen them take residence in empty boxes sitting next to them and have chased them for 1/4 of a mile. To me it seems like you just need to get your bait hive in the area if you do not know where the parent hive is located. I have several "hot spots" that I always get a swarm call from but can not locate the parent hive.