What Should I Do?

mtnb · July 19, 2015, 01:37:11 PM

Was out to dinner last night. Small town, MT. Talk with the waitress about honey mustard dressing led to talk about bees. She knows everyone so I told her if she ever knew of a swarm to let me know. She says, matter of fact, bees just moved into the back of the liquor store next door. And lo and behold, the owner of it is standing right there! lol He showed me where they are. It was late, around 8:30, so not much activity. Been there for a week, he said. They are getting in along a crack between two brick buildings. About 8' up. He was happy that I said I would try to get get them. It's my first year though and have only considered maybe catching a swarm. This will require a trap out, right? If I put a box up by the entrance with a frame of drawn comb maybe, would they consider relocating on their own? ...first thing I thought was...a swarm in may is worth a load of hay...hm a swarm in july isn't worth a fly. lol Plus, with a trap out, I wouldn't get the queen, right? I only have one colony that I got in May so I really don't have any spare parts to lend them. How would you all suggest I get them? And what can I do with them if I do get them? Combine them with the ones I got? Being in Montana, it's getting a little late to be messing around...Gonna go take a closer look in a bit

GSF · July 19, 2015, 02:58:17 PM

I'd say it's highly unlikely you'll get the queen. In addition trap outs take a long time - from what I've "read". If you do a cut out, be sure to have a solid contract.

cao · July 19, 2015, 03:07:33 PM

If I had the opportunity and the time, I would try it just for the experience. It may cost you a frame of bees or larva from your hive to get them to raise a queen, but if there is enough bees there they could build up rather quickly. Another option would be to tell the building owner that it would be risky to do a trapout this late in the year and that you would be happy to do it in the spring if they make it through the winter.

mtnb · July 19, 2015, 03:39:49 PM

I think that too, cao. I'm gonna do it just for the experience. There's no way I would do a cut out. I just wanted a simple swarm, not even this, but I think it could be fun. The owner was glad to know about me because he was planning on spraying them soon so I think waiting is not a option. I really don't even know what's there but I'm excited to give it a try. They've only been there a week so maybe they'll be opento a relocation.

I think I'll take a drawn frame and another with some larvae and put some lemongrass oil on a cotton ball. Maybe I can lure out the Queen. Even if I don't get her, I can still try to get them to make a new one which will be a new awesome experience for me too. I just have no clue what I'm doing. lol I'm just gonna go for it. lol

cao · July 19, 2015, 06:35:42 PM

Robo and iddee has instructions on how to do a trapout.

http://www.beemaster.com/forum/index.php?topic=20301.0

Have fun.

mtnb · July 19, 2015, 08:03:37 PM

That is a hreat link cao! Thank you!

Well, I did it. We'll see what happens. lol The crack was huge all along the wall but they seemed to be getting in only at the top. I didn't know what else to do so I stuffed all the cracks with newspaper. I wonder if they will just chew through that. Made a funnel but once it was up I realized they can climb right through the grid. arg oh well They look like they're getting out but not back in that way. Not yet anyway. lol There got to be quite a few after a while. I told them they should just get into my box and I'll take 'em to a nice place. Want some candy little girls? lol

Say I do get some or most, would it be better to combine them with mine or take a frame from mine and let them make a queen? ...concerned about it being so late and winter coming. Could they even have a chance to make it here in MT?

http://s284.photobucket.com/user/MTBeeGirl/media/Trap%20Out/image.jpg2_zpsr35mabbd.jpg.html?sort=3&o=0

KeyLargoBees · July 21, 2015, 07:39:48 AM

They will chew through the newspaper....needs to be something else like one of those blue spun frame less AC filters or some such......if they chew through newspaper on a hive combine they will chew through it to get past your stuffing job to get back into the hive.

chux · July 21, 2015, 08:45:29 AM

If they have been in there for only a week or so, they don't have much stores or any brood to hold them to the location. If you can caulk the cracks, this will seal it. Make sure the screen is 1/8, or window screen size. Within a few days to a week, they should all come out, including the queen. She will probably lead the "swarm" away thinking that there is no food to be had in the area. Likely not to go into your box.

Earlier this year, I did a trapout on a swarm that had moved in about three days earier. Everybody said they would leave quickly when I seal it off. After a week, I ended up opening the space to get to the colony. They had not built any comb. The bees were sluggish, like they were starving. But they refused to leave. I got them with my beevac, put them in a hive, and fed them. Now they are doing great.

So I say, "most of the time," if you can set up a trapout on a colony that moved in within a week, they should come out of the space within a week.

mtnb · July 21, 2015, 12:48:03 PM

I thought about that with the newspaper I just didn't have anything else. And I've decided I really don't want to spend too much money on this. Idiot me....I already bought some screen ($16) which I used for the funnel. I went back yesterday to look and turns out the grid is too large and they're squeezing right through. The grid is 1/4", yeah bee space, I have no freakin idea what I was thinking! Lol obviously wasn't! lol Some haven't figured it out and are just flying around the entrance. The owner was with me and said, oh yeah, there's a ton of them now! More than I've seen since they came. Well, what I saw is a couple of hundred bees trying to get in. Plus maybe a hundred or so more in the crack? Idk, not much for sure. I'm going to go to town today and get some window screening, 1/8" , thanks chux! lol, and form that over the existing cone. More $ :/ If I cover the stuffed newspaper with good duct tape, will they chew through that? I'll have to look also but I bet my hubby has some caulk laying around...

challenger · July 21, 2015, 04:52:42 PM

You are right, you don't know what you are doing.
This isn't necessarily a bad things because that's how most of us lean-to jumping in and, "going for it". Unfortunately there really is no longer an excuse for ignorance on the subject of trap outs. The Internet will give you the knowledge to do this as if you've done 100. If you approach it with ignorance then you are lazy and haven't done the research.
Look at the "Hogan trap out". It is fool proof and I did a difficult one this year from a tree and got the queen as well as tons of bees. This method will not fail so long as you seal the bees out and provide the proper transition box. This bod basically becomes part of the current hive and the bees will use it as such.
Silicone caulk. Newspaper? Really? You do know that bees can be combined using the newspaper method right? They chew through newspaper like it isn't there so......???
This will be a good lesson. You'll learn to NEVER remove bees for free. Also NEVER believe the folks that say, "They didn't spray the bees". If they bring it up this means the DID spray the bees. Spraying is a stupid way to try and kill bees but most won't admit that.
Good luck.
Live and learn.

Galaxy S4. Slimkat 4.4.2 official.

chux · July 21, 2015, 05:30:49 PM

I'm sure the hogan method is fine. I haven't look into it yet. If you look on the forum for the bee removal page, you will find an excellent step-by-step walk-through for doing a trapout, by iddee. He really knows his stuff. I have used this method successfully a few times now. MT Bee Girl, you are in for a shock when you get the 1/8'' screen. Around here it is as precious as gold...

As for using duct tape...I have used gorilla duct tape on brick to seal a funnel. It worked. Don't use regular duct tape. Get the black gorilla brand. Prepare to double layer it. And keep a watch on it to see if the bees start to chew through. I don't think they could, but better safe than sorry. The big thing is to be very methodical. Go over every inch of the area. Be very sure that there is no crack anywhere near the entrance for at least 10 feet. Be sure you seal everything up with the caulk, tape, or screen. You can do this. Just do the research and give it a go. You might mess up. Even folks that have done it several times will mess something up. It's a learning process and every job is a bit different.

iddee · July 21, 2015, 08:35:21 PM

Silicone caulk will work fine. Plain screen will work fine over the 1/4 wire. Screen by itself will collapse and close the exit. No one ever done all things right the first time, so don't get discouraged, and don't pay any attention to the hecklers. Continue marching, and we will help you reach your goal.

As stated above, read my five threads thoroughly, and watch the video,then refer back when needed. Post a question as a reply on any you don't fully grasp. We will be here to help and you can do it.

Blacksheep · July 21, 2015, 08:47:40 PM

Hi: I did a cut out a few weeks ago and didn't get the Queen as she was inside the house and owner wouldn't allow me to cut the ceiling out to get the main part of the hive.I brought the bees home and they were awful mean!Stunk me several times and followed me stinging also stung my neighbor in the face close to his eye.
I went to great lengths to save them traveled a long way to get a 40.00 Queen and they killer her right away after I manually released her after 4 days in the frames.
They were nothing but trouble and I am glad they are all dead now.
I have another cut out which I got the queen and they are very gentle bees so are the swarm I got this spring!They queen is a must in my book from now on out!

mtnb · July 21, 2015, 08:57:29 PM

Thank you iddee. I really appreciate that. I did check out that Hogan method and it seems like the thing to do except. Like I said, I'm not sure how much money I want to spend on a few hundred bees, although there may be more, who knows? I also did read your threads, iddee, and watched the video and that is extremely helpful. I will go tomorrow morning and adjust things and see how it goes. I'm also excited to work with some other bees but they are just as docile as mine so far. Totally a learning thing for me. Good thing I've got a tough skin.

I really appreciate the help!

mtnb · July 21, 2015, 09:00:29 PM

Quote from: Blacksheep on July 21, 2015, 08:47:40 PM
Hi: I did a cut out a few weeks ago and didn't get the Queen as she was inside the house and owner wouldn't allow me to cut the ceiling out to get the main part of the hive.I brought the bees home and they were awful mean!Stunk me several times and followed me stinging also stung my neighbor in the face close to his eye.
I went to great lengths to save them traveled a long way to get a 40.00 Queen and they killer her right away after I manually released her after 4 days in the frames.
They were nothing but trouble and I am glad they are all dead now.
I have another cut out which I got the queen and they are very gentle bees so are the swarm I got this spring!They queen is a must in my book from now on out!

That's a bummer! Luckily these are only about 5 minutes away so not too much of an inconvenience. Imma gonna catch me a swarm next year! lol

GSF · July 21, 2015, 09:35:57 PM

Challenger; You need to look at your replies before you post. You're talking to folks like they're idiots and it ain't going over well.

quote (in part)

You are right, you don't know what you are doing.
This isn't necessarily a bad things because that's how most of us lean-to jumping in and, "going for it". Unfortunately there really is no longer an excuse for ignorance on the subject of trap outs. The Internet will give you the knowledge to do this as if you've done 100. If you approach it with ignorance then you are lazy and haven't done the research.

beemaster · July 21, 2015, 10:17:49 PM

Challenger is being banned for 30 days. We don't write to other members in such ways. Hope he understands there are no second chances - next ban will be permanent. Thanks to those reporting him, that is the proper way to handle such issues.

mtnb · July 21, 2015, 10:53:39 PM

Wow. Thank you. I didn't want to be overly sensitive so I decided just to ignore his mean comments. I know in my heart that the opposite of what he thinks is true. I'm learning every day and reading everything I can. What he thinks has no effect on me. Thank you for acting so swiftly though and not tolerating such put downs. It makes me feel more comfortable knowing that I can get support here rather than being chastised for learning.

divemaster1963 · July 21, 2015, 10:58:17 PM

Wish I lived near you. I would give you the equipment to do the work and work it with you. True beekeepers are a family in their own. We willing help each other to learn more both for you and us. No one person can have all the answers and do everything right the first time. The day we stop learn and improving is the day they put us in a box.

John

biggraham610 · July 21, 2015, 11:14:17 PM

He did say one thing worthwhile, CC Hogans trap out method is easy to build and time tested. I agree, none of us should talk to one another that way. There really was only One perfect person. Good Luck Bee girl. G