5.5 lb Swarm Retrieved this Morning

[tshnc01]

Hello all - I just retrieved a 5.5 lb swarm this morning from a suburban neighborhood in Chapel Hill, NC.  It was only about 8 feet up in a small cherry tree and came out easily with a few snips from my pruners.  I just hived it into my first TBH.

Darn, after walking inside to type this post, I looked out the window to see the "swarm" flying up 80 feet into a pine tree top just above the hive.  I have put lemongrass oil on the new TBH.  Any other ideas???

...Tim

[contactme_11]

Catch them and keep them blocked in a bit?

[JP]

Yep, if you want them you will have to catch them, then add feed and a queen includer. You never mentioned how much lemon grass was added but just a smideon does the trick, too much could cause them to leave.

Some swarms are difficult to keep boxed, queen includer is your best bet in keepin 'em put.


...JP

[tshnc01]

I only put about 2 drops of lemongrass oil on the hive....One drop inside on some comb, and another at the entrance....

Unfortunately the bees were a bit high for me to recapture and it looks like the moved on to a new location.  Next time I will try and keep them sealed a bit longer via a "queen includer"...

Would it have helped to have sprayed them with sugar water before hiving them (like with a package)? 

[JP]

Spraying them with sugar water provides instant feed and wets their wings so they don't fly as much as least temporarily.

Queen includer is the best insurance.


...JP