Holy Cow - 5th swarm!!!!

[ccwonka]

Okay, so I'm looking at the fifth swarm of the season on my property.  And yes, they have (for the most part) seemed smaller than last year.  At least two of these have come off my hives (probably more), guess I need to get a little more "hands on" in the brood nests . . . I was trying to mostly leave the bottom two boxes alone and just give them plenty of room to move up . . .

Strategy FAIL.  LOL.

We'll see if I can get this one to stay, they're a little high, but I think I can pull the branch down low enough to shake 'em into something.

So far this season I've had three captured swarms (the fourth was too high to even try) and have one split - the split is still extremely weak, but surviving (I erred on the side of caution for the established hive).  This is putting me at six hives, I get this swarm and I'm back at seven, which I think is about as far as I want to go!!!!)

CC

[Understudy]

Congrads on your swarm catches. The swarms being a natural thing should not make you list your strategy as fail. You now have the wisdom of knowing that the bees might be slightly ahead of you in their schedule.

You might want to put your boxes on earlier. Most people follow an 8/10 rule before adding a box. You may want to follow a 7/10 rule. Also You may want to try adding them just before the flow begins.

You really may want to set up some swarm traps. You can bait them. That way you are not seeing them on a branch that is to high. Granted swarm traps are not a guarantee. It's like fishing and the more you do it the better you will get at it.

Sincerely,
Brendhan
 

[ccwonka]

In the moist south I had a serious Hive Beetle problem last year, so I was trying to keep extra space to a minimum.  I've tried the beetle busters and all, but they do a minimal job at best once there's an infestation . . . The beetels do seem to be under control this year.

The good news is the hive beetles are under control now, I have four overwintered hives that are thriving and two fledgelings caught this year . . . of course, I'm looking a a sixth swarm in my yard right now.  DOH!  (too high up, and out of gear - too much of a good thing!!!)

I have a swarm trap up, ironicaly, it's in one of the two trees they seem to keep landing on as swarms, and they always check it out, but never move in . . . I have the lure and some drawn comb in there, which might be why they check it out, but never a resident.