One Heck Of A Swarm! April 13, 2009

JP · April 13, 2009, 08:56:22 PM

This was a bruiser swarm, the kind that gives you goose bumps.

The intial shake was great, all bees instantly orienting to the catch box. Lots and lots of bees.

The queen was hanging out on the outside front of the box. When I smoked them, they started going in along with the queen.

I watched her move up and down between the center frames but she must have come back out and on the front exterior again.

I puffed them again and must have puffed directly on her or there was too much smoke in the box, but she flew up to another tree.

This time they had four different clusters, which was a pretty cool sight. Didn't really know which one she was in so just went right down the line putting in handfuls and shaking some as well.

Got all squeezed in and brought 'em home.

Added a medium atop the deep and gave them feed. It was a lot of fun!

Pics: http://picasaweb.google.com/pyxicephalus/April132009?authkey=Gv1sRgCMGM9IzVts7hAQ#

...JP

MustbeeNuts · April 13, 2009, 10:01:41 PM

Wooowzer,, thats one nice swarm, I can't figure how you shoved them all in there. Truly inspiring...

JP · April 13, 2009, 10:06:41 PM

Well, the one last Saturday, April 4th was pretty darn big and they squeezed in so I figured these would also but man, I have to start bringing extra boxes with me. The swarms are pretty big this year!

...JP

Cindi · April 13, 2009, 10:07:56 PM

Oooh, JP, nice job!!! THat is one honkin' big bunch of bees. When I looked at the four clusters of bees, it looked to me like a ball of brown grapes hanging off the tree, weird. You are having the time of your life, now ain't that such a cool thing, hee, hee. Have that great and most awesome day, life, and health. Cindi

iddee · April 13, 2009, 10:39:21 PM

Beautiful swarm.

Better to carry 2 boxes and need 1, then to carry 1 and need 2. :roll:

SlickMick · April 13, 2009, 11:30:45 PM

JP, you certainly know where to get the monster swarms.. makes me green with envy. Perhaps they perfrm just for you. I'm lucky if I get a couple of frames worth.

Mick

Natalie · April 13, 2009, 11:32:02 PM

Wow JP, that is awesome!! Is that the biggest one you've caught so far?

annette · April 13, 2009, 11:52:49 PM

Don't you usually catch that queen with the clip first thing???

Anyway, I really enjoyed these photos. I really don't think we get swarms like that out here. Bees do really great where you live.

JP · April 14, 2009, 12:12:15 AM

Ok, where do I start. Natalie, Are you asking if that's the biggest swarm I've ever caught, ever, or this season?

Cindi, it was indeed a magnificent sight to behold when they bunched up like that in those grape like clusters!

Iddee, you got that right, would rather have too much than not enough. Actually I keep those file boxes in the truck, so in a jam, I could use those, but you're right, I need to start bringing deeps and mediums along!

Annette, you get swarms in your area just like anyone, they just haven't found you yet, the calls will come, I know they will. Annette, I don't always catch the queen, most times I do, but not always, as long as they all get in the box, we're good to go.

Mick, this year so far has been a year of big swarms!

...JP

dpence · April 14, 2009, 02:01:33 AM

Wow, where do you keep all the swarms? Your yard must be getting huge already...

David

SgtMaj · April 14, 2009, 03:56:32 AM

Holy cow JP! That's Niiiiice! :-D

How many lbs. would you guestimate it at?

SlickMick · April 14, 2009, 05:47:57 AM

Quote from: JP on April 14, 2009, 12:12:15 AM

Mick, this year so far has been a year of big swarms!

...JP

Not knowing American geography (I have only 7 states and a couple of territories to memorise), Louisiana must be somewhere in the south (must be hell trying to have a handle on 52). What is the climate there? I am sub tropical so I understand a bit about that sort of climate

Mick

KD4MOJ · April 14, 2009, 08:46:05 AM

Cool photos JP! Did you just shake the branch initially to get them to fall on the box?

...DOUG

Natalie · April 14, 2009, 10:45:45 AM

Hmm, I guess the biggest swarm ever? Is it me or does it seem like your swarms are getting bigger each time?

JP · April 14, 2009, 11:08:15 AM

Natalie, this one was pretty darn big http://picasaweb.google.com/pyxicephalus/May252008#5204510013985347490

This one was close http://picasaweb.google.com/pyxicephalus/April192008#

KD4, I shook them in, twice!

Sarge, man, I just don't know for sure, had to be between 4.5 and 5lbs, perhaps a little more.

Mick, yes we are in the southeastern quadrant of the United States in between Texas and Mississippi.

We barely have a winter here, our summers are hot, but very humid.

As for as where do I put all the bees. I keep what I can, and defer the rest to friends and to some who want to get started up beekeeping.

...JP

dpence · April 14, 2009, 12:24:14 PM

Quote from: JP on April 14, 2009, 11:08:15 AM

As for as where do I put all the bees. I keep what I can, and defer the rest to friends and to some who want to get started up beekeeping.

...JP

That's cool.

dgc1961 · April 14, 2009, 01:20:39 PM

JP,

Where do you advertise to get the calls for swarms? I am wanting to add more hives, but don't have the money to buy packages. I would like to catch some swarms.

vermmy35 · April 14, 2009, 01:54:15 PM

JP it seems you always get the nicest swarms :-D

SlickMick · April 14, 2009, 04:48:37 PM

Just loved the shopping trolley swarm and the way they just all marched into the box. Tell me JP, did you get them to line up into nice straight lines first or did you shout out "There is a sale on in the box, girls"? :-D

Mick

SgtMaj · April 14, 2009, 06:02:07 PM

Quote from: JP on April 14, 2009, 11:08:15 AMSarge, man, I just don't know for sure, had to be between 4.5 and 5lbs, perhaps a little more.

Had to be much bigger than that. My guess would be at least double that.