Desperate for advice - cutout from a tree needs to be done asap - first time

OzBuzz · June 23, 2010, 09:39:07 PM

Hi Everybody,

I'm desperate for advice here... I've just been called by a tree lopper who has found a hive in a tree they're removing. They want it gone asap and they can't wait for a trap out etc. Apparently the hive is about 12ft up in a split in the tree - they can see atleast 6ft of vertical comb through the crack. I don't know if there is power on site to use a bee vac. Apparently you can reach in to the crack... I feel a billion stings coming out of this one! in any case it needs to be a cut out and i need to get as much of the comb as i can... I haven't seen the hive yet. Can anyone offer me any advice as to what i should do? This is my first cutout.

John Schwartz · June 23, 2010, 09:44:58 PM

Start here: http://forum.beemaster.com/index.php/topic,20301.0.html

iddee · June 23, 2010, 10:07:18 PM

Loan the cutter a bee suit. Have him cut the tree 2 meters above the crack. Then slice off pieces until the first comb in observed. At this point, nail a cover over the exposed hole.

Have him cut 1/3 meter below the bottom of the comb. He can then attach it to his boom truck and lower it to the ground, or your truck bed or trailer, keeping it in the same orientation.

You can then take it home, or do the cutout on site. With the crack that is in it now, it will split vertically easily with a hammer and wedge.

OzBuzz · June 24, 2010, 10:29:57 AM

That was a flop sadly... Truckloads of comb but only five or so bees that I saw

Titus · June 24, 2010, 11:08:38 AM

Maybe they left when the tree cracked open too much? Sorry you missed them.

OzBuzz · June 24, 2010, 08:35:56 PM

Maybe - having a look at the hive and its exposure i think during the warmer months it would have been an amazing hive! come winter with the cold wind and the rains it would have shot straight in to the crack where most of the exposed comb was. There wasn't even a slight hint of honey in any of the cells so it has been robbed good and proper. There were no bodies laying around so i don't think they died out - they're probably in a neighbours wall :) There was a handful of bees still flying in and out so either the colony has seriously shrunk and disappeared to the top of the hollow or they're the last survivors of the 'poplar' colony... I put my hand deep in the hive and there was no guarding activity at all so i don't think there's a queen or any brood in there. When i shined the torch up inside i couldnt see that far in but five or six bees came to the comb at the top of the split - again no guarding/hive protection activity at all - they just retreated back inside. It's a shame! it would have been a massive hive in its hey-day - there was 6 leaves of comb atleast 6ft tall and about a foot deep that i could see (so that's 36 sq ft of comb) and then there was probably a metre above the split that i couldn't see...

iddee · June 24, 2010, 10:22:28 PM

With you being in winter, I would ask to be there when they cut the tree. There may be a full hive in cluster above where you can see.

OzBuzz · June 25, 2010, 12:08:28 AM

I have thought the same thing - i pushed my hand up above where i could see and nothing - no bees on my glove, no bees coming out to scare me off... i have told the guy though that if they have any hassles when they cut it down to let me know and i'll come out and take it away.