Blueblood's Fifthteenth Swarm 2015 Loading Dock

[blueblood]

My brother sent me a message with a photo of a swarm on the loading docks where he works.  It was around 9:14 PM this evening when I received the message but the bees had been there for two hours.  I figured they would spray the bees because their loading docks are extremely busy.  My brother called them and requested they hold off and allow me some time to collect them.  Indeed, I later discovered spraying them was on the table.  I Collected my gear and off I went.  I started peeling the bees from the concrete wall clump by clump with a drywall spatula until I saw the big ole orange queen appear.  An employee was very interested in helping me find the queen.  I told him what she looked like, how she moves and evades and how the other bees act around her.  He found her twice at the same time I spotted her!  I was impressed.  I clipped her and almost shut her hind leg in front of the clip, whew!  The bees were all on the box now but were not cooperating as far as all of the going in the nuc.  I knew leaving them there was not an option.  They provided me a box and lid to place the whole nuc in.  I placed them in the box, taped it up and took them to my yard.  Sorry, not enough time to take video.  Plus it was too dark.  It was 11:30 PM when I returned home.

[blueblood]

Just realized this was the 1515th post of the 15th swarm in 2015!

[Jen]

Buy a lottery ticket! ... the numbers are lined up 

[G3farms]

I think you needed a bigger box.

Good catch and easy to get to also!

[LazyBkpr]

Dang I wish he would send some of those swarms this way!

[blueblood]

I think you needed a bigger box.

Good catch and easy to get to also!

I think it looked like there were more because they were spread out, nearly single layer.  But, G, you were right.  I have officially depleted my woodenware. I am ordering more today.  So, I have been wanting to experiment with placing another nuc on top of another with 1/2" drill holes on bottom for them to move up to (x3).  I can always plug the holes up or screen them over later if I need the nuc for something else.  I wonder if they will use it for nesting or honey storage?  The queen  may not move through one of the three holes?  We shall see.  *the second photo was upright on my end.  It was turned somewhere in the process.

[Zweefer]

Buy a lottery ticket! ... the numbers are lined up 

With 15 swarms, I'd say he already won.

[rrog13]

That's awesome!

[Les]

Woohoo, congratulations!