Its swarm time.
Will you be ready?
I get excited this time of year, actually March-June when the full moon approaches, is over head, and a few days afterwards.
There is no doubt a correlation between swarming and the full moon. You can bet your bottom dollar down here in southeast Louisiana our bees will be motivated to swarm come the full moon.
What about you guys and girls, have y'all noticed this?
Today I had three bee calls. Two were scouts checking out houses to go in. I left behind a deep with drawn comb and pheromone at each of these locations at the roof level.
Before I left my last one there were scouts entering the deep. I believe they will swarm in tomorrow, we shall see.
Third was a small swarm that moved in approx a week ago into a guy's plastic cushion box for his pool furniture. Unfortunately he sprayed one end with wasp spray and killed most of the bees.
The queen was still alive along with perhaps 150 bees or so and I boxed them up and brought them home. They looked like they were doing fine and I gave a queenless colony the queen and the bees, which they accepted just fine.
I told him he dodged a potential bullet this time as he had no idea how many bees were in the box.
A really big aggressive swarm may have lit him up and his neighbors after being ticked off, you never know. This put fear in him and he said he had no idea that was a possibility, in fact I think he thought the bees were wasps.
He actually was a pretty nice fellow, just ignorant to the ways of honeybees.
Even though I was very disappointed with the man and sad for the bees, I had to be nice and educate him some, hopefully, my positive attitude with him makes a difference.
So let me know about this moon thing, I swear by it, and the calls I get are the proof.
...JP
I believe we had a full moon last night but I haven't received any calls yet.
But I wouldn't doubt that the moon would have something to do with swarms or hive behavior in general. They are so in tune with the universe these bees.
Heck, didn't you know that the bees need the full moon's light to guide them when swarming at night??? :-D Yeah, I was told by someone that bees only swarm at night! That is why you always find them hanging up in trees and things in the mornings!
JP, Honestly I am with you on this one. I had noticed this before and never said anything more about it after the wacko told about bees only flying at night!
Brenda
You got that song stuck in my head!!
Johnny
JP, It has been two days that I put the bees in the new hive. This morning the number of bees seems to be less than last night, and there isn't lots of activity. I wonder how the bees survive without any food. Do they go out and find food for the queen?
Lucky, you are speaking of the little swarm correct? You have seen the queen correct?
With very little numbers and feed they won't travel out much as their energies are devoted to building comb and tending to the queen.
Do you have any other hives?
Oh, BTW you guys, that swarm did show up today, I posted it here http://forum.beemaster.com/index.php/topic,22091.0.html
Brenda, you didn't need to say, I knew exactly who you were talking about. :-D
Johnny, just for you http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtvJexR4iVg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCirEV4OAUw&feature=PlayList&p=1F4C019B47FC8DE2&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=46
...JP
Fabulous trailer, I think I will rent this movie again.
JP I am glad you are having so much fun with the swarms. Everyone should love what they do. Did you have a happy Mother's Day??
Why yes I did Annette, I worked my bees at the house and caught a swarm and rented the movie Slumdog Millionaire http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1010048/
I usually avoid seeing movies that are hyped up half to death, even though we did try and see it, seems it was always sold out and life goes on and its pulled from the big screen before you know it.
I thought it was good, did you see it?
...JP
I love this movie and saw it twice. Although at first I found it hard to accept the harshness and cruelty that can take place in India. I have been to India 17 times and I know another side of India, of loving, kind people and extremely spiritual people. But with the extreme poverty that is what happens also.
I have seen some unusual sites while being over there.
Glad you had a great day.
Annette
JP, yes I was talking about those bees and I did see the queen. In fact, I saw her many times, because there are not much to look at. Anyway, yesterday I sticked my hand in that hole and pulled out some hive with lots of honey and there are still many bees inside that hive. They came out and attacted me. I got about ten shots ! So I put some broods with honey into the box with the queen in it, and lots of bees went inside the box. But this morning most of the bees went back to their old hive and eating their honey. The queen is still in the box. Do you think after bees finished eating all honey, they will go back into the box with the queen?
Lucky, refresh my memory here if you don't mind. You pulled these bees from a cut out, another hive?
Sorry, I'm not understanding the full picture. Details please.
You pulled combs from where? A cut out?
...JP
JP, I'm still talking about the same old hive. Because I'm not allow to cut house, that's why I had to use the vac. When you told me that hundred of bees will not do the work, I returned to the house, covered my face and body with a blanket, and sticked my hand in the hole, trying to pull out some comb, but because the hole is too small, most of the combs were crushed, so honey was dripping all over my body and the bees started attacted me... For some reason, the queen never left the box, eventhough she is next to her old hive.
Quote from: Luckyparrot on May 13, 2009, 03:04:25 AM
JP, I'm still talking about the same old hive. Because I'm not allow to cut house, that's why I had to use the vac. When you told me that hundred of bees will not do the work, I returned to the house, covered my face and body with a blanket, and sticked my hand in the hole, trying to pull out some comb, but because the hole is too small, most of the combs were crushed, so honey was dripping all over my body and the bees started attacted me... For some reason, the queen never left the box, eventhough she is next to her old hive.
You really, really, need a beesuit to do cutouts. Not to mention bee gauntlets/gloves.
Quote from: Grandma_DOG on May 13, 2009, 03:14:36 AM
Quote from: Luckyparrot on May 13, 2009, 03:04:25 AM
JP, I'm still talking about the same old hive. Because I'm not allow to cut house, that's why I had to use the vac. When you told me that hundred of bees will not do the work, I returned to the house, covered my face and body with a blanket, and sticked my hand in the hole, trying to pull out some comb, but because the hole is too small, most of the combs were crushed, so honey was dripping all over my body and the bees started attacted me... For some reason, the queen never left the box, eventhough she is next to her old hive.
You really, really, need a beesuit to do cutouts. Not to mention bee gauntlets/gloves.
And don't forget the gaiters when working on a ladder. Bees up the pant legs can be disconcerning, the further up, the more disconcerning.
Quote from: Luckyparrot on May 13, 2009, 03:04:25 AM
JP, I'm still talking about the same old hive. Because I'm not allow to cut house, that's why I had to use the vac. When you told me that hundred of bees will not do the work, I returned to the house, covered my face and body with a blanket, and sticked my hand in the hole, trying to pull out some comb, but because the hole is too small, most of the combs were crushed, so honey was dripping all over my body and the bees started attacted me... For some reason, the queen never left the box, eventhough she is next to her old hive.
Andy, sorry you had a bad experience getting stung. You need to look into getting some protective clothing before going into a situation like you described.
I wear a jacket/veil combo from Dadant with long pants. When dealing with aggressive bees its also a good idea to wear gloves to protect your hands if need be.
I am having a problem enlarging certain pictures, Microsoft gives me an error report type thing then boots me off, so I wasn't able to get a clear picture of your removal.
You say the queen didn't leave the box? What box?
On cut outs you generally have to physically remove the queen from the void space the colony is occupying. she seldom just leaves on her own.
...JP
One more thing Andy, would you please update your profile to include your location?
Thanks,
...JP
Thanks, you guys. I'll definitely order something to protect my head and hand next time, when I start fooling with the bees again.
Anybody knows why the queen is not laying eggs? This is what happened to my queen. Eventhough the worker bees built her a new little white comb, but she lays no eggs in it. And today she went outside the box, as if she wants to find a new hive.
Quote from: Brian D. Bray on May 13, 2009, 09:30:06 PM
And don't forget the gaiters when working on a ladder. Bees up the pant legs can be disconcerning, the further up, the more disconcerning.
I always get a kick out of hearing these type of comments from men. I don't know why, but it gives me a chuckle. Men worry about the silliest things, smiling....have that beautiful, wonderful day, lovin', livin' and sharin', health. Cindi
Well Cindi, none of us guys like being stung in the kadoodlepoppers!
...JP
JP, oh you make me wanna laugh, oh your make me wanna shout, I love the sprite in you-ou......Holysmokin'doodles....this world is the most fun place to be, to spend time with those make a difference, yay, love this thing, smiling. Most beautiful days, to have, to hold, to share -- with all those that count, all our forum friends, health. Cindi....my heart is filled with nothing but wonderous joy!!!
Cindi,
Your joy overflows into my heart and I am laughing. I never met anyone like you before. Between you and JP you both have me cracking up to much. You are like a comedy team together. I just love it, so please keep it up.
Annette
Annette, you gotta love the rock lady, she is very special, as are you. Did she really believe that building a rock pile to the moon would keep me from stealing a few ducks?
I may be getting older but I still climb rock piles pretty good, and you know me, anything for a duck!
And man her ducks are good!
Ha ha ha, she's probably thinking about new ways to keep me out at the new house, but I've got some new tricks up my sleeve she ain't seen yet! :-D
...JP
Annette, I am smiling, you do say the kindest things, :) :) :), thank you for being you.
And as for you JP......thank you for being you, bet you thought I would say something else, now didn't ya. Now JP, I know that you have those sneaky things up your sleeve, I just can't wait to hear what your next FAILED attempt would be, you'll never get all my ducks, smiling. They are on guard too, they have heard the stories of how "JP wants to put them on his dinner plate", don't think so, smiling. As Natalie once said, your face is up on the most wanted bulletin board as "most wanted", you may find one day that the tables have turned and you may be the one they will be after. And you will never reach the top of the rock pile, it too has things that lurk within, ready to catch and dissuade climbers, smiling. You ain't seen nuthin' yet, smiling. Beautiful days, to live, love and share, health. Cindi
Cindi, I never would want to take all of your ducks, just a few, here and there. You give them feed, shelter and lovin' I could never give them.
This is how I get over the rock piles http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BGRAwf3rlQ
...JP
JP
Even if you could fly over the rock pile, I wouldn't try it if I were you. As Cindi said there are things lurking within the pile that you do not know about and I wouldn't test the power of the rock pile or the power of Cindi. Stay away from the rock pile or else. I trust Cindi has total control over the rock pile and you would not be able to get through it. It may even harbor a secret or two that you should probably not know about. Hee Hee
Also if you want to get a duck from Cindi you have to approach her nicer. Maybe crawl on the floor and beg a little. Just a suggestion
Annette
Cindi won't invite me over for a duck dinner cause she knows I would just keep eatin' til I passed out, so I have to sneak in now and again, and take a duck or two, but oh, the price I pay for her ducks!
Yes, booby traps, rock piles, killer roosters, turkey spurs, what will she think of next, hmmm???
Its gettin tougher but I'm up for the challenge!
...JP
Quote from: annette on May 18, 2009, 12:32:34 AM
It may even harbor a secret or two that you should probably not know about. Hee Hee
Annette
Oh Annette, I have been asked what is beneath that massive pile of rocks, smiling, there are strange things done in that midnight sun....
JP, up for a challenge, smiling. Beautiful days, to love, live, and share, health. Cindi