Native Stingless New Home

[Bradless]

Hi I am new to bees this weekend I cut down an old tree and after cut up one of the branches and I have realised it housed a native bee hive    I have tried to protect the hive as much as I could but managed to cut in into 3 sections is there any way to rehouse them any help would be good please.

[weedyau]

If you can, reassemble the tree and sit the same way up again. Cover the top with something to keep them warm and dry. There's a cold change coming so I wouldn't box them now. They have a better chance of surviving in their existing home.

Where are you?

[Bradless]

Thanks weedyau i am in brisbane near browns plains. i have mounted the three pieces to a plank of wood but i would like to set up something more permanent. 

[BeeMaster2]

I have tried to save hives from trees that were cut down several times. Most have had so much damage to the comb from that fall that they don't survive.
The last one, the owner said that the tree guy lowered it to the ground. Yea, he lowered it 6" and then dropped it the remaining 30'. The comb inside was so smashed together that I initially thought the comb was rotted wood. It wasn't until i touched it that I realized it was comb.
Jim

[Wombat2]

Sawdust - our stingless native bees are very small and don't build comb as such but rather sacks of honey that hang down from the roof.

Probably a bit too cold now to help but one of our club members who rears native bees uses styrene foam fruiterers boxes to give extra insulation if you have some handy

[attachment=0][/attachment]
[attachment=1][/attachment]

[BeeMaster2]

Wombat,

Sounds like they have a much better chance to survive a fall . Good luck.
Jim

[Australian Beekeeper]

Missed this. I am a native bee keeper at Greenbank down the road. How did these little guys go? The objective is to close up any gaps as quickly as possible because that is what will get them. They are surprisingly resilient if you can get those cracks sealed and can seal the ends of the log.

Mine are all very active even through the cold (and I keep hockingsi as well) so if you managed that in time I suspect they survived. Let me know if you need a hand boxing them up or positioning your hive (important with natives).

[SlickMick]

Bought my first box of Carbonaria last week. I can't get over how small they and the box are so small after humping their big sisters around for 20 years. Hoping to pick up a swarm this season.

Good to be back on the forum

Slicko

[DAM79]

You can purchase native bee boxes from Burnett beekeeping or easy to make, plans can be found on web. I'm planning on doing a split this weekend my neighbours hive is ready.

[iddee]

'bout time ya got back here. 4 years is inexcusable. Don't let it happen again. Now let's see 1000 posts to make up for it.      

WELCOME BACK.