First swarm

GaryMinckler · May 24, 2009, 09:56:11 PM

Any ideas on how to catch it?

GaryMinckler · July 01, 2009, 06:41:16 PM

Caught first swarm and it turned into a thriving colony then....

Caught this one too.

Kathyp · July 01, 2009, 06:46:23 PM

those are nice looking swarms! i like them better when they are hanging off the end of the branch :-). i am getting lazy in my old age.

those look like keepers. how many lbs do you think they were?

GaryMinckler · July 01, 2009, 06:53:29 PM

I sprayed the second swarm witha little sugar syrup before I shook the branch. When the bees hit the box it almost ripped it out of my hand. 3-4 lbs??

G3farms · July 01, 2009, 06:58:45 PM

Nice swarms, did you get both of them put up?

G3

GaryMinckler · July 01, 2009, 07:46:05 PM

Second one has only been a hive 3 hours. First one is storing honey.

GaryMinckler · July 09, 2009, 04:25:29 PM

Swarm #3. This swarm landed on exactly the same branch as previous one 8 days ago.

Kathyp · July 09, 2009, 04:33:53 PM

i have picked up a couple that have done that. one lady has a swarm land in the same tree almost every year. i don't know if it's scent, genetic memory, or what. now i always tell people to keep my number. you never know.....

also took a swarm and had the guy call me back a few days later to tell me i missed the queen and a small clump of bees were back. i knew i had her and the bees. i figure this was an afterswarm maybe led by the same scout bees? they are interesting critters.

homer · July 09, 2009, 09:45:13 PM

That swarm looks really big! Congrats!

bhfury · July 10, 2009, 01:18:35 AM

Great Job.... do you always get some this late in the year?

GaryMinckler · July 10, 2009, 03:03:59 AM

I would think this is late for a swarm. Only my third year so I don't really know if this is abnormally late. One swarm last year that I know and at least 3 this year and 2 in the last 8 days

applebwoi · July 19, 2009, 03:14:33 AM

Nice swarms. I alway spray with sugar water when hiving a swarm. We typically have maximum swarming in April and May and then some late season swarms in September. I always wondered about these late swarms since they are almost certainly doomed to starvation in the wild. i feed them and they have always survived just fine and gone on to be good producers the next year.

Karl Wisconsin · August 05, 2009, 04:45:38 PM

All great looking swarms. I'm in southern Wisconsin and had my best swarm season in the last few. Caught several really nice ones and about 4 average sized ones. Just seems like the populations are back up. Not sure if mine were feral or domestic. They are always fun to catch and each one is a bit different. I generally always give them a gentle spray of sugar water before boxing them.