Author Topic: Maybe a Missed Opportunity? Catching Swarms at Night? (Read 10410 times)

tbonekel · « **on:** April 08, 2015, 10:00:12 pm »

I went to church this evening and had a wonderful time of fellowship. The whole time I was there, I didn't know that a swarm of bees had taken up on one of the pieces of playground equipment right there almost right under my nose. I got home a little after dark and received a text from one of the staff members with a picture of the bees.

I told him that I would be by tomorrow afternoon right after school, but the chances that they would still be there is pretty slim. Now for the questions. First, have any of you captured a swarm after dark? Would it be the same way? I would think that they would be more aggressive. Now for what I might try to do. I have a swarm trap ready to go. I thought about taking it to the church on my way to school tomorrow morning and placing it somewhere in the vicinity of the swarm. I guess it's worth a shot, but wasting my time maybe?

Yankee11 · « **Reply #1 on:** April 08, 2015, 10:17:15 pm »

If it were me I would put a box with some pulled comb even some honey and set it under the swarm and shake it off into the box. Put the lid on and walk away.

Just me anyway.

iddee · « **Reply #2 on:** April 08, 2015, 10:20:35 pm »

The only one I have ever encountered at night was on the ground. I set a hive right next to it and they started the march. An hour later, I took them home. If I were to shake one at night, I would be in full combat gear. They get downright nasty when the sun goes own.

tbonekel · « **Reply #3 on:** April 08, 2015, 10:20:50 pm »

Hey Yankee! Well, first of all, there is no shaking this thing. It's a very sturdy and stable piece of playground equipment. Second, are you saying doing that at anytime of day or night? If shaking was an option, I could see how that would probably work at night.

iddee, I agree, I think they would be pretty upset. I think that there is a nice big flat spot on top. I might could place a box up there first thing in the morning, before they get too active and maybe they would go up and in?

Yankee11 · « **Reply #4 on:** April 08, 2015, 10:26:31 pm »

If you cant give it a good shake and knock them off them I wouldn't do it at night. Brushing them or anything like that would be painful. Like Iddee says. I was thinking if they fell onto the box they would march in. Shake and run ;-)

Could you set a box on top of them with comb in it without the bottom board. Looks like they could crawl straight up into it.

tbonekel · « **Reply #5 on:** April 08, 2015, 10:30:51 pm »

Quote from: Yankee11 on April 08, 2015, 10:26:31 pm

Could you set a box on top of them with comb in it without the bottom board. Looks like they could crawl straight up into it.

I think that is a plan that just might work. I'm going to try that at first light in the morning. Now if I can just find someone with a key to let me into the playground area. Most of the church staffers don't get there that early.

Jen · « **Reply #6 on:** April 08, 2015, 10:30:57 pm »

I would have been tempted to got get them tonight as well Tbone, but thinking twice about that after Iddee's comment, and a little bit of experience of my own.

I like Yankee's idea. That's exactly what I did on my swarm this year. The swarm was on a lower branch, I put my ready deep filled with pulled comb, under the swarm, shook the branch and let them fall, they kinda went all over the place, but a good amount went right into the hive box. Then the rest walked right in. Took about 1/2 hour.

Here's my question, the swarm is on a roof like structure, how is Tbone going to shake that? I would run a wide putty knife gently but quickly and let the bees peel off and fall.

I like this idea even more, putting the box over the swarm. See if you can put the box on tonight? That won't bother the bees....

Do It! this is a nice sized swarm, ya gotta get em

Yankee11 · « **Reply #7 on:** April 08, 2015, 10:37:36 pm »

I bet a Coke Zero they march right up into the box.

Perry · « **Reply #8 on:** April 09, 2015, 08:34:48 am »

I would get them day or night. That's a nice looking swarm. Even if all I had was a cardboard box, I would come up beneath them and raise the box around them and then just gently dislodge them into it. They wouldn't fall far or hit hard and probably not get overly riled.
A few stings for a nice swarm? Good trade IMHO!

LazyBkpr · « **Reply #9 on:** April 09, 2015, 09:11:59 am »

As mentioned, full combat gear... then I would put my red lens in my light, and sweep them as gently as possible into my box. They wont typically fly, but they WILL crawl and get into ANY opening they can.
Second option would have been to use my Bee Vac.

tbonekel · « **Reply #10 on:** April 09, 2015, 09:46:23 am »

Well, because of the lack of free time, I went early and placed a box on top of them. Hopefully, they will walk up into a new home. I placed the box without a bottom board. My plan is to come and pick them up this evening. I'm not sure what their plan is.

CpnObvious · « **Reply #11 on:** April 09, 2015, 09:51:01 am »

Awesome opportunity. Not sure I'd want to use the slide right now... I'm fairly against a face-full of bees

Jen · « **Reply #12 on:** April 09, 2015, 01:56:14 pm »

Cool! Can't wait for tonights follow up

tbonekel · « **Reply #13 on:** April 09, 2015, 05:16:37 pm »

As I had feared, the bees were gone. They didn't like the home I provided for them and chose another. Dang this day job!! Oh, well. There will be others.

Yankee11 · « **Reply #14 on:** April 09, 2015, 06:17:49 pm »

Man. I owe you a coke zero. If your ever passing through Little rock give me shout.

Thats crazy,

Perry · « **Reply #15 on:** April 09, 2015, 06:26:01 pm »

You may have arrived too late to begin with. There were probably scouts coming back to the swarm with potential homes and the decision may have already been made, or close to it.

In the future, I would grab them when you're there. A box raised from below, up and around the swarm encompassing them, and then dislodge them with a stick or something slim, and they're in the box.
Hindsight is always 20/20.

Mosti · « **Reply #16 on:** April 10, 2015, 04:37:22 am »

I have collected my first ever swarm at night this year, a couple of weeks ago. It was established for a week and had pulled 2 combs in its original location. Actually I went for it late morning, shook the colony into a nuc with undrawn comb and the others marched in. However since there were workers up and about I decided to go for it later in the evening when it was dark but to my surprise they were all back in their original place, about 6 inches away!

Having no gear I shook them into the box again and collected what bees I could with the help of a wire mesh with which I intended to close the nuc for transport, and my bare hands. I did get a couple stings but nothing big.

The next morning I took the nuc to the bee yard and opened it up since it was some 3-4 miles away from its original location. After a week or so I opened it up but to my dismay I could not locate the queen, I had eggs in clumps in the few drawn cells and developing drone larvae.

Well, I assumed I had a laying worker and so I decided to combine it with another nuc which was not that strong....actually dying i think.

Now, fingers crossed, there is some activity going on. Some brood in the nuc look like they have died off, perhaps due to lack of nurse bees keeping a good temperature in there. I have also noted dead hatching bees with only their heads out of the cells. Hoping that it will make it through I am feeding it now.

LazyBkpr · « **Reply #17 on:** April 10, 2015, 08:58:37 am »

I am feeding it now.

there ya go.. I always try to feed nucs until I am sure they are well established. Hoping they pull through for you!

CpnObvious · « **Reply #18 on:** April 10, 2015, 09:57:17 am »

Mosti, I see you've been around for a while... But I don't think I've ever seen you! So I'm going to take this opportunity to say "Welcome to the forum!", though I'm 14 months late

pturley · « **Reply #19 on:** April 10, 2015, 11:22:52 pm »

Definitely a missed opportunity. And yes, they are more likely to crawl at night so full combat gear is recommended.

The first swarm of the year a couple years ago was about the size of a basketball. Brushed into a cardboard box well after dark.

http://s193.photobucket.com/user/pturley/embed/slideshow/Beekeeping/Swarm%20capture%204-17-12