Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: William F Abell Jr on April 30, 2012, 09:36:21 PM

Title: Swarm on Ground
Post by: William F Abell Jr on April 30, 2012, 09:36:21 PM
Large swarm landed in a tree about 12' off the ground. I am past that stage in life where I climb ladders so I thought I would just wait. Sure enough they flew off to a sapling in my field and I went to get my gear when I got back half of them had gone to a multa flora rose bush and half were in the tall fescue underneath the sapling. I got the ones in the bush and hived them but I don't know how to get the ones in the fescue on the ground. I have tried baiting them into a box w/o success so far. If I knew for sure I had the queen in the first batch I wouldn't worry about them. Any suggestions? Thanks.   
Title: Re: Swarm on Ground
Post by: AllenF on April 30, 2012, 09:40:39 PM
Put your box on the ground in front of the swarm.   Let them march in.   Use lemongrass oil as bait.
Title: Re: Swarm on Ground
Post by: asprince on April 30, 2012, 10:11:56 PM
I have hived many swarms off the ground in grass. As Allen advised will work but I usually just place the hive body with frames and without a bottom over the swarm. They, in short order, will just crawl up in to the box. You may need to prop it up a little.

Good Luck,

Steve