hive removal

sean · December 17, 2007, 09:02:56 PM

i have spotted a hive living in the trunk of a mango tree near my apiary. The tree is too big for me to cut(not that i would really want to) and the hole is small to get my hand into. any suggestions as to a plan of action? If i were to nair a nuc onto the tree near the entrance and bait it with a frame of brood would they voluntarily move in?

wayne · December 17, 2007, 09:48:49 PM

That with a wire cone will deplete the hive. If you keep it up long enough the hive will weaken and the box get stronger until one can rob out the other.

Michael Bush · December 17, 2007, 10:16:39 PM

The wire cone is a nice way to steal bees from the hive if you take the bees 2 miles or more away from that location. You can put the cone up and brush the bees clustered on the cone into a box and take them to boost other hives.

http://www.bushfarms.com/beesferal.htm#conemethod

JP · December 18, 2007, 02:12:49 AM

Sean, the problem with trees that you can't cut into, is that the queen doesn't want to leave the tree. You can as has been mentioned gather some and mix them with another hive, bees will always cover brood comb its in their nature, but they're not going to abandon tree for the nuc. Your choices are to trap them out or cut the tree down and perform a cut out, or to take numbers and bolster another colony.

Sincerely, JP

sean · December 18, 2007, 08:56:29 AM

thanks for the responses. I will have to build a stand for the nuc and will be trying the cone method. Will give an update. thanks again

sean · December 27, 2007, 05:30:38 PM

should be tackling this capture over the weekend

JP · December 27, 2007, 09:37:48 PM

Good luck and have fun Sean.

Sincerely, JP

LocustHoney · December 27, 2007, 11:44:39 PM

super dave · January 08, 2008, 07:27:48 PM

what prevents the bees from going back in the cone -- is it like a crab/lobster trap
thanks
dave

super dave · January 08, 2008, 07:34:27 PM

never mind i just read m.bush's site
later