Caught my first swarm of 2019.

[Ben Framed]

Thank you Phillip and Jim. The ladies made it home safely. When I opened the box at home to adjust the frames properly, that's when I realized this was a good swarm. They had all 8 frames covered. :) ... I feel blessed today.  can't let all of you have all the fun!     

I'm glad you had fun!  That is a nice new hive and was nice of your friend to call you.  I'm still anxiously wanting to join the swarm catchers club!! Ha haa 
Alan, Just for educational purposes, did your friend know the origin of the swarm. I was wondering if it might have originated from the same source as the previous ones that he has already caught this season?
Thanks,
Phillip

[CoolBees]

Phillip, he's not sure of the origin. He's got some hills to the west along the coast where most of his bees come from. They are wild (feral) bees for the most part. No commercials within 15 miles that anyone knows of. He lives "in town" but close enough to the hills. Could be somebody's backyard swarm also.

My guess is its from his hives, since he doesn't do swarm management. I.e. - its the same genetics as one of the lines I already have from him - still feral mutts in origin.

We opened 3 of his hives while we waited for the bees to settle into the box. No hive of his had bees in the 2nd or 3rd box. Really suprised me - mine are working on the 4th and 5th boxes, and his "flow" started 4 weeks before mine due to elevation differences.

I'm guessing his are doing the swarming due to his management style.

Also - his bees untreated (last year at my house) had a totally different growth rate last year, than they had this year after treatment this winter. So I really don't know either. Attitude wise, they closely resemble my favorite line of genetics that I already have.

[paus]

I have caught a few swarms that I am sure came from a commercial Beek,  The bees are larger than my mutts, and from remembering , which ain't what it used to be, They did not do as well as the smaller feral bees that I normally remove from the homeless list. 

[van from Arkansas]

Mr. Cool, what more could you want?  Easy low hanging fruit, accessible, nice size swarm it is.  Count your Blessings, you will forever remember that swarm. 

There are some really nice size swarms in the pics by forum beeks.  Thanks for posting fellas, Jim, Cool,  I enjoy looking at all the photos.

Still a lil cool in my area, bees began profitable foraging last week.  My bees are about 2 weeks behind due to cold here in N. Arkansas: Frost yesterday morning.  Not complaining at all, as getting better by the day.
Cheers

[CoolBees]

Van - "low-hanging fruit" are the best. Some people advertise, struggle, worry, to get swarms. Not me. I was relaxing on my couch (finally) and this one jumped up and .... ... well, nevermind. Those are the best. 

I did 3 splits today. Swarm prevention. Also, I checked on a split I did early last week during an inspection. Pulled a frame full of swarm cells to make the split. It's now queenreight with fresh eggs. Yeah buddy. That takes me to 9 ... from 4. And I'm going to split my production hives (2nd yr queens) once the flow stops (usually May here).

We will see ... 

[saltybluegrass]

feeling SO advanced after hundreds of you tube hours studying and no bees yet, i placed a swarm ad on the neighborhood app. several people contacted me. I thought, What the hell have i done??? I did get one from a hot tub and one from a hollow landscaping rock. low hanging indeed!!

[CoolBees]

Blue Grass, personally - I like the taste of low hanging fruit! [Hehehe] 

[ed/La.]

I was at work yesterday and left back if my truck open and pulled a nuc out and had scout bees around it  so I left it in a spot and baited it so will see what happens fingers crossed

swarm traps in back of truck do give you hints on where to place traps. I usually have a few in the back of truck to replace traps that have caught or if I  find  a good location to place one. Any activity around truck and I  find somewhere nearby to set my trap.

jtcmedic, ed/La. have y'all had any luck so far related to the above?

Yes I try to keep bait traps in truck in case I find a new location or changing one out that caught. If I come out to my truck and there is activity I find somewhere nearby to set a bait box. I have latters on truck so I  put them in a tree 8 to 12 feet up so no-one mess it. When it catches I can pick it up at my leisure because it is high enough that people don't freak out. The trick is to put out as many as you can. Always have a few ready to set.

[KD4MOJ]

I would take all the bees and shake them out in front of their door and leave...

And hope he doesn't have a RING doorbell!   

...DOUG
KD4MOJ