Just had a swarm on April 6th.
(https://i.imgur.com/a68rbHX.jpg)
Got the swarm out of the tree, queen confirmed with them. Ultimately got them into a hive body and to a new location same day, with a medium super the next day.
Took 4 frames from original hive. 3 brood frames... capped brood and eggs, and a frame full of uncapped honey and gave it to them. There were 3 frames on either side of those 4, totally devoid of foundation ((all I had)). I peeked inside a few days later and they drew comb FAST. I'm sure by now, 4 out of the 6 empty frames are now drawn fully.
I've seen them working like crazy. Loads of them flying in and out, but no pollen on their legs. This is my first hive from a reclaimed/captured swarm, so my question is... with no obvious pollen on their legs, are they merely concentrating on nectar for comb building? There's PLENTY of flowers for miles.
That is a beautiful pic, Magic, calm sunny blue sky day.Can?t say for sure about absence of pollen. However, wax building is a good sign,
How did you catch the swarm so high on a flimsy limb?
The weather should allow you to get into them tomorrow afternoon long enough to look for eggs. The eggs you put in on the 6th are large larva by now. Any eggs or small larva will be from the swarm queen. They may have sufficient pollen on the food frame you gave them.
Quote from: van from Arkansas on April 13, 2020, 06:35:58 PM
How did you catch the swarm so high on a flimsy limb?
Myself, Step Dad, 2 latters, a branch clipper and the strength and coordination to hold onto the branch and bring it down without falling. =^_^=
The timing couldn't have been more convenient and inconvenient at the same time. I had to secure them in a BIG cardboard box while I went out and got material to MAKE a bottom board and top cover, since my bee supply store was out of them due to bee "package season."
>I'm sure by now, 4 out of the 6 empty frames are now drawn fully.
It amazes me the speed that a new swarm can build comb.
> How did you catch the swarm so high on a flimsy limb?
I just learned how to do that exact thing this season, (remove bees from high flimsy limbs). As Mr Van ask, how did you do it? Good job by the way.
Phillip Hall
Thanks, you answered as I was typing.
thanks for the info there, iddee... and to everyone else so far for the replies.
If I have anymore I will take pictures of how I do it with a bee vac, 16 foot pool pole, 10? secured step ladder, and the height and reach of my body. PS I hope I do not have any more that high. But what I did worked VERY well.
Congratulations on your catch and the companionship of your family?s help. One for the precious memories book! Wish I still had my dad.
Blessings,
Phillip Hall
Good catch. That?s a nice size swarm.
Kevin
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Quote from: iddee on April 13, 2020, 06:49:47 PM
... Any eggs or small larva will be from the swarm queen.
Fortunately enough the swarm queen is one in the same mama bee to the 3 brood frames I gave them.
I tried to provide enough space for them to not want to swarm, as the queen is only from 2019. Fortunately I was still able to keep them.
These girls are smart, as far as my experience has shown me thus far. I dropped in 10 frames of BetterComb on a WARM February day, and they thickened that comb up to the point I can't tell that it was artificially molded. The 4 frames I gave to them were BetterComb. Other examples I've seen online, and what ifixoldhouses told me, the comb sagged under heat and weight. So far, with what they've done, it's holding up.
Quote from: Ben Framed on April 13, 2020, 07:07:10 PM
If I have anymore I will take pictures of how I do it with a bee vac, 16 foot pool pole, 10? secured step ladder, and the height and reach of my body. ...
Sidetrack: My buddy had me help him with a swarm up high in a tree last year (that I got to keep :grin:). He used a 16' pole with a 5 gallon bucket tied on the end. He sprayed the bucket with 1:1 sugar water before lifting it. Once the buclet was in position (me on a ladder), he then used another pole with a hook to shake the branch. Worked like a charm.
Nice catch.
@ CoolBees
The idea of first spraying the sugar water in the bucket is a new one for me and I like that idea. Good teamwork is hard to beat! Was y'all fortunate enough to get them all the first try? I am hesitant to ask, ah, did you happen to get a bee shower? I got a good one once before I began using the bee vac lol, Alan I got a good one! My wife was watching from a distance and she got to see the free show. lol
:shocked: :cheesy: :wink: :grin:
If I did not already have the bee vac, I would try it your way for sure on the high ones.
Phillip Hall
Last year I took a deep frame with nice dark drawn comb and attached it to a painters pole. I stuck it next to the swarm where the bees would cover it. It worked good on the swarms last year that I caught with multiple queens. I could find the queens walking around on the comb.
Very nice!
Quote from: Ben Framed on April 13, 2020, 11:46:47 PM
@ CoolBees
... I am hesitant to ask, ah, did you happen to get a bee shower? ...
Nope - he dropped 99% of them into the bucket on the first try. We dumped those into a hive, sprayed them again, set the hive on the ladder, and 20 mins later all were inside. Worked like a charm.
I should add - he doesn't use a smoker. He has a spray bottle with sugar water that he sprays the bees with any time he goes near them, or into a hive.