bee tree success

danno · August 10, 2009, 03:43:38 PM

The neighboring city called me this morning asking questions about what honey bees look like. In storms this weekend they had the top of a large hollow maple blow over in the cemetery crushing one head stone. They told me it had a crack in the trunk on the part that still stood that had alot of bee's coming and going. I met them there and as I thought it was a colony. The tree was about 30" in diameter. I told them that it would be highly unlikely that I could find the queen after the trunk is dropped but that maybe we could salvage some honey. They agreed not to spray and instead one of them suited up in my extra full suit and after a good shot of smoke started cutting. The 25+ foot trunk hit the ground hard. Bees started pouring out but they still remained calm. I had the guy cut a chunk out about 3 ft above the hole. Then another foot and another and we were in the nest. I picked out chunks of comb looking for the queen never expecting to find her. We had about 5 ft of trunk with a hole in both ends full of bees. we decided to split it down the center lengthwise. after about 10 minutes of cutting we opened it up like a hotdog bun. Suddenly there she was. Right in the middle. Not having gloves on I reached in and snatched her up. I took her to my truck and put her in a cage. I then stuck her in the spare hive body that I always have in the back of my truck. I set it next to the tree trunk and watched the start marching in. I know its way to late to build them up for winter but I have a couple of weak colonies that could use a new queen

John Schwartz · August 10, 2009, 03:50:12 PM

Great story! Thx for sharing.

BeeHopper · August 10, 2009, 05:22:20 PM

Nice Job :-D

David LaFerney · August 10, 2009, 07:07:04 PM

Pretty cool! How did you come by your number?

danno · August 11, 2009, 09:00:05 AM

Quote from: David LaFerney on August 10, 2009, 07:07:04 PM
Pretty cool! How did you come by your number?

did you mean how did they come by my number? I work for the country goverment and this everyone know everyone.

David LaFerney · August 11, 2009, 10:17:38 AM

Quote from: danno on August 11, 2009, 09:00:05 AM
Quote from: David LaFerney on August 10, 2009, 07:07:04 PM
Pretty cool! How did you come by your number?

did you mean how did they come by my number? I work for the country goverment and this everyone know everyone.

Yeah, that's what I meant. Sorry. I was just wondering if they found you on a removal list or something like that. Sounds like you're saying that everyone just knows that you are a bee keeper.

danno · August 11, 2009, 02:05:18 PM

ya this town is like mayberry minus Andy, Barney and aunt Bee. Everyone know everyone business