I didn't make room in my hive soon enough, and got some queen cells. I knew it was going to swarm, even though I split it into two boxes. The original box swarmed today. They were very obliging and swarmed right when I came home from church, and on a low limb 30 feet from the original hive. This is what I did...
1. Put a swarm box (two deep equivilant) with a cracked open lid under them, touching the swarm.
2. There is lemon grass oil on a paper towel in a ziplock baggie inside from a week ago.
3. There are 5 deep frames at the top of the box.
4. I stole a frame of comb from the original colony they just left, and put it as the center frame inside the swarm box.
I thought with the lure, they would have already gone in.
Maybe I need to remove the swarm box and put it back over on the old oak tree, 70 feet away, and let them find it themselves.
Maybe they smell the comb and think, "we just left his place".
Advice?
Sorry. It is a little over one deep super equivilant.
Manually put it in your box. Shake, scrape scoop it in. If the queen is in the box they?ll more than likely set up shop. Put it in one of your new hives. You could even add a frame of brood.
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Yes, definitely knock them in a permanent box and hope the queen is in with them.
Congratulations!
I could be looking at that situation tomorrow.
This was my hive last evening when it was windy and cool. I know they want to swarm and I'm ready.
But they will have to make their own choice. I'm too old to climb and shake and monkey about in trees! LOL
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I am 74, nearly 75. I still climb and shake and monkey about in trees. How old do you need to be to be too old to shake a swarm?
Quote from: iddee on March 08, 2020, 07:09:45 PM
I am 74, nearly 75. I still climb and shake and monkey about in trees. How old do you need to be to be too old to shake a swarm?
Let's see, $250 for a nuc vs. $2500 for ER, physical therapy, and the beating I'd get from my wife. ;-)
Different strokes for different folks. :cheesy: :cheesy:
Only you know what's best for you.
I put a box under them, and brushed the entire mass into it. And STILL missed the queen. They mobbed under the box and when I moved the box to try again, the mass fell down into the leaves and pinestraw. That's where they are, and now it is night. I lost them, unless they mob again tomorrow.
They will be in a cluster in the morning. Get another box and offer it to them. There's something they don't like about that one. Quite possibly, too strong a lemongrass smell. It can happen and does very often.
Bob , I like to lay a spread out bed sheet on the ground.
Quote from: iddee on March 08, 2020, 09:27:23 PM
Quite possibly, too strong a lemongrass smell.
Yeah, forget the lure. A brood comb wouldn't hurt.
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Father Michael, swarm bee's aren't aggressive as you can see.
That's me last year at a friend's house. Bee's were in the air and I used one of iddee's tricks and started beating a metal trash can lid and bee's lit up on this box. I'm looking for Queen.
This is one of those times you'll get lots of info and some of it will conflict. :cool:
I don't use lemongrass or anything in a box that is going to take an already formed swarm. I do use old comb. I use a lure when I am trying to attract scout bees to check out a swarm trap.
When I go after swarms, I take a tarp. I find it easier to put the box on the ground, knock the swarm into the box, and then if I don't get the queen or a lot end up on the ground they don't get lost in the grass. If you can take the branch off or can knock them right into the box, that's great, but I am not very coordinated on top of a ladder!
Anyway, good luck with the catch. Update us!
OH, one other thing. If the swarm has a virgin queen rather than a mated queen in it, I find those harder to settle. Iddee can probably comment on that, but those are the ones I have had trouble getting to go in and stay in.
I use a King Size, white sheet that I have designated for this purpose. As Mikey said. Works great. Center this sheet beneath the swarm and place a step ladder where needed in the center area. I Use a simple copy paper box to rake or shake them in. Lite, and easy to handle. Any spillage goes on the sheet. Or as Kathy a tarp, same principle. Any spillage will be easily seen and less chance of stepping on the queen in case she missed the box. Maybe this will be of help in the future.
Phillip Hall
QuoteOr as Kathy a tarp, same principle.
Oregon. We use tarps for everything because everything is wet. :grin:
Quote from: MikeyN.C. on March 09, 2020, 01:14:42 PM
Father Michael, swarm bee's aren't aggressive as you can see.
Yes. I'm no good at ladders and climbing due to injuries and hip surgery. If the swarm is lower to the ground then count me in!
Quote from: FatherMichael on March 09, 2020, 05:35:44 PM
Quote from: MikeyN.C. on March 09, 2020, 01:14:42 PM
Father Michael, swarm bee's aren't aggressive as you can see.
Yes. I'm no good at ladders and climbing due to injuries and hip surgery. If the swarm is lower to the ground then count me in!
As in lower to the ground you mean a ground swarm? I had to deal with that last year and it was a pain :cheesy:
I'm trying to down size pic. To show but it's a pain. As far as how high to have a trap. IMO it doesn't matter. Bee's will hit what they think is rite.
Better to use a photo hosting site like google or FB and then include a link. So much is lost by downsizing the photo.
If you beat metal. Bee's. As I'm told think it's thunder. Rite ?
Latest news on the swarm.
It moved that day from the ground to a high limb, which I cannot reach. I moved my empty swarm trap back to the big oak 70 feet away, and now today... 12-15 scout bees prowling around the swarm box entrance. Maybe they will move in on their own, in spite of my own wasted, inexperienced efforts. The bees will do what the bees want to do.
Mikey. I often download pics from my phone to my computer, then just the basic "Paint" program that comes with the Microsoft operating system, which has a resize function in it. I like doing this from my computer anyway, it is easier to post and add pics rather than on my cell.
Looks like you're in good shape, Bob.
Bob, do you have a old dark frame of comb in trap box?
Yes I do, Mikey. I robbed the original hive after the swarm left and took a partly formed frame. It is sitting in the middle/top of the swarm box. My other swarm box does not. It is my second spring and empty frame is hard to procure for me.
> OH, one other thing. If the swarm has a virgin queen rather than a mated queen in it, I find those harder to settle.
Iddee can probably comment on that, but those are the ones I have had trouble getting to go in and stay in.
Kathy, this is information that I dld not know. I was of the understanding that when a hive swarmed a mated queen was in the bunch and sometimes virgins would tag along? I did not know they would swarm with only virgins?
Thanks,
Phillip
QuoteI did not know they would swarm with only virgins?
The first swarm goes with the mated queen. After swarms often have only virgin queens. Sometimes several.
Kathyp. You asked for an update.
After two botched attempts to capture the swarm, they moved in on their own an hour ago!
Awesome!
Yea! Congratulations.
KathyP. By the way. I really liked the Alexis de Tocqueville quote at the bottom of your page. I did a search on him after I read it.
QuoteI really liked the Alexis de Tocqueville quote at the bottom of your page.
He's worth a read.
https://www.amazon.com/Democracy-America-II-Optimized-Kindle-ebook/dp/B00307S1MY/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1583961028&sr=8-1-spons
If you are lucky you can find his writings at the library. If not, the Kindle version is not to expensive.
Quote from: Bob Wilson on March 11, 2020, 04:07:27 PM
Kathyp. You asked for an update.
After two botched attempts to capture the swarm, they moved in on their own an hour ago!
Praise the Lord!
Quote from: Bob Wilson on March 11, 2020, 04:07:27 PM
Kathyp. You asked for an update.
After two botched attempts to capture the swarm, they moved in on their own an hour ago!
well done that is awesome
Congratulations on the blessing Bob. Fun Fun Fun!
Phillip
Congratulations Bob, pretty soon you will be teach us!