Swarm Call Questions,

BeeMaster2 · May 17, 2016, 12:24:02 PM

Here are some questions to ask if you get a call wanting you to come get a swarm:
1.   Have you called someone else?
2.   How big is it?
3.   How high is it?
4.   Do you have a ladder?
5.   What have you sprayed them with? Key word is WHAT HAVE YOU, do not ask DID YOU. You will get totally different answers.
6.   How long has it been there?
7.   Is it on your property?
8.   What is your contact number?
9.   Do you have pets that might bother me?
10. Can you send me a picture of the bees. This is very helpful when they send you a picture of a wasp nest or a picture of lots bees collecting nectar in a tree.
Jim

Michael Bush · May 17, 2016, 02:21:45 PM

>1. Have you called someone else?
But most importantly "did you spray them"

>2. How big is it?
Divide by 2

>3. How high is it?
Multiply by 2

>4. Do you have a ladder?
How long is it. Divide by 2.

>5. What have you sprayed them with? Key word is WHAT HAVE YOU, do not ask DID YOU. You will get totally different answers.

I like that. I like to point out that if I find out they were sprayed I WILL bill them for the trip and I will NOT take the bees, so tell me the truth.

>10. Can you send me a picture of the bees. This is very helpful when they send you a picture of a wasp nest or a picture of lots bees collecting nectar in a tree.

Yes, pictures of the swarm, the bees, the tree from the ground to the swarm are all helpful. I've made too many trips to get yellow jackets from people who SWORE they know what a bee looks like...

GSF · May 17, 2016, 02:25:15 PM

I had an 80+ y.o. beek ask me to help him get some bees out of a wall. I didn't want to but I did it for him. Yep, yellowjackets.

Acebird · May 17, 2016, 04:03:46 PM

I had a call from a friend last fall to get a swarm and the first question I asked is "do I want them" and I didn't, even though my hive count was low. Then I started asking whether they were honeybees or not. What he described sounded like honey bees.

Michael Bush · May 17, 2016, 04:12:54 PM

Another common miscommunication is that people say they have a "swarm in a tree" when what they have is an established colony in a tree... a picture often eliminates that misunderstanding...

Nugget Shooter · May 18, 2016, 02:47:02 PM

Good post and being rather new to all this I have learned a couple lessons on that list. Last rescue was a "bees in the water meter box" and big hive according to home owner. This was the photo I got of the "big hive" They are now safely in their new deep here on the property and happy with queen easily found during removal. Guess they have never seen an established hive and the water box ones are usually newly established since they are checked to read meters monthly. Love free and easy to collect bees.....

BeeMaster2 · May 18, 2016, 05:28:55 PM

Bee careful with water meter hives. In your area, there is a high probability that they are AHB. I would re queen now while they are small and still gentle.
Jim

Nugget Shooter · May 18, 2016, 05:46:43 PM

Thanks Jim and yes South of us in the Tucson area they are becoming a problem according to our local beekeepers. Not so much yet here near Wickenburg and these bees came from Yarnell up at 4800 feet and an hour North of here. I agree it is a possibility, but not as bad yet here I think as media leads folks to believe. I know many here with good sized operations and as yet there has not been any real issues in their yards. The media here though reports all bees as AHB when anyone gets stung or a swarm stops to rest in Phoenix. Still will make a call today to my friend and mention your suggestion as he has Queens available sometimes.