Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: CBEE on March 21, 2012, 09:22:18 AM

Title: Caught off guard
Post by: CBEE on March 21, 2012, 09:22:18 AM
I was  moving wood down to my wood pile and 1 of my hives swarmed while I was stacking wood. This is one of the oddest springs I have ever seen. 10 to 25 deg above norm temps and everything is happening at least a month earlier than it should. I have never seen a swarm this early and was completely cought off guard. AT least I was able to catch them
Title: Re: Caught off guard
Post by: cinch123 on March 21, 2012, 11:22:13 AM
Man I'm glad I have swarm traps out. I know NE Ohio is behind you down there in KY, but it doesn't look like Winter will return anytime in the next couple weeks here - best to have the boxes out and available!
Title: Re: Caught off guard
Post by: AllenF on March 21, 2012, 09:10:06 PM
I am wondering with all the warm weather if I should have planted the garden sooner rather than waiting for Good Friday.  I have been expecting some swarms but have been too busy working to watch over.  Good catch on that swarm.
Title: Re: Caught off guard
Post by: blanc on March 23, 2012, 03:27:14 PM
Allen I planted a month ago now in south louisiana! Earliest I ever planted and usually plant march 21st area.
Title: Re: Caught off guard
Post by: CBEE on March 24, 2012, 01:34:40 PM
Yup, Kinda crazy isn't it. I think this long warm spell allowed them to catch some flow off the maples. It's usually to cool for them to bring much of it in. I have never seen them build up this early this quick and thats the only thing I can think of.. They were building burr comb on the inner cover! I threw a undrawn supper on the old hive to let them work on and the swarm hive is building like mad.