hello everyone,has anyone in my area having swarm problems?one of mine swarmed last week and my mentor has had several of his swarm within the last couple of weeks .talked to couple of beeks in club that have hives south of me and they have had late swarms also.the hives that have swarmed have had empty supers on them and are the Ferrel breed from around here.thanks bill
Yes one of my hives decided they were going to swarm before I harvested. So I harvested honey not realizing they had swarm cells. The result was two swarms over the course of two days, both were literally 2 hand fulls of bees.
yes i had a big swarm on the 28th. but the hive still has a ton of bees in it i hope they stay.
I had a big swarm on the 20th and a after swarm on July 1st. This hive had 8 queen cell on the top and bottom of one frame. I lost the first but the after swarm took up residense in one of my sona tube traps.
Down here where i live Bees just started swarming. Actually, bees just seem to have started what they probably should have started 2 months ago. I thought it was just my bees but some guys in the bee club informed me that the bees in this area had been about 2 months behind their usual schedule. In the last 10 days I've had 4 swarms to catch ( or look at). My bees havent swarmed yet, and i hope they dont, but If they do I hope the swarm stays close to my place :-D
your friend,
john
I've been getting swarm calls left and right. Like Johnny said, I think the bees got a late start this year especially up here in Washington where we had several weeks of very cold weather a month ago that set us back. It even killed 3 of my hives. Thank God for the late swarm calls, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to replace my bees!!!
Sean Kelly
i missed 3 swarm calls while i was away. would have combined them with other hives, since none built up as well as they should have. oh well, there is next year...and the year after that..... :'(
Sean, don't forget your elderly decrepit little (heightwise)beekeeping mentee here in Buckley when you get swarm calls..I can help, even if it's just cheering you on!! GO SEAN, GO SEAN!! How're the girls??(human). Bee meeting is Mon, are ya goin? Jody
Hey Sean,
I'll buy one of those swarms from you if you want to bring it along with you for the Big Bash.
I've been taking the calls and not taking the swarms. It always seems I get the calls when I'm at work or sleeping (I work graveyard). So I keep missing them or just refer them to the Pierce County Beekeeper's Assn. If only I had more free time....
I haven't forgotten you Jody. I promise I'll call you the next time I go to one. Should I refer any other swarm calls to you? Are you going to the Pierce County Beeks meeting on monday? I think it's my turn to drive. lol
Sean Kelly
I was getting a recurring hole in my head refilled yesterday, when the dentist and his staff told me there were a few swarms about three weeks ago outside their office. Since we hadn't talked much beforew they found out I was an aspiring bee'keeper' and promised to call me the next time. We are normally finished in May with swarming.
Seems one of the swarms started setting up house.
This past week we had a few swarm calls, we always get a few late swarm calls and this isn't late yet.
...JP