Lots of bees in a dead tree

[harvey]

I just got a text message not even sure from who that told me that they had a dead tree that was full of bees.  As this is august and the only thing around here left is goldenrod should I even consider doing anything or wait till spring and just try and catch a swarm off of the tree?  Don't have any idea the size of the tree or even the types of bees for that mater.  If they are honey bees and the tree needs to come down what would yall do?   I have never done or tried a cutout before.

[iddee]

Now, Harvey, think about what you are asking. You want us to think and type all the possibilities of what could be, when you won't even put out the effort to go see what kind of bugs they are. I think you could at least try to give us some basic info to go on, if you want helpful answers.

[harvey]

Idee,  it was all the info I had at the time,  Now this is what I have found out.  It is definately honey bees,  It is a large maple tree that fell in the wind.  The trunk is split open exposing about four feet that is full of comb and crawling with bees,  So I recon this will be like a cut out.  I have a bunch of foundationless frames and rubber bands ready but cant get there again until monday.  I have boxes and stuff.  From what I have read the most important thing will be finding the queen?   The comb in the tree is pretty dark.  looks to have been there quite a while.  enough comb to maybe fill two ten frame boxes at least.  Now how do I proceed and how agressive will these guys bee now that there home has been destroyed?  Do you smoke a cutout? 

[iddee]

You definitely smoke a cutout, maybe a few times. Anytime they get nervous.

The important thing is brood and eggs. Did I mention eggs? Be sure you get eggs.

Then the queen is a bonus.

Of course, that is if there's still time in the season to raise a queen and get her mated.

Don't try to put honey in the frames, just the brood. Then scoop, brush, or whatever, the bees into the hive with the framed brood.
Let the hive set there and remove the trunk where the comb was. They will gather in the hive. Take them home at night when all are all in the hive. 

[harvey]

Ok sounds like some stings coming!   I will be as gentle as possible,  How many frames should I try and fill?  One deep or two?   Anything else I need to know or is this like learning the hard way too?   If I don't do nothing I am sure they are doomed or maybe they will swarm to a new place?

[Pillpeddler]

Sounds like my first go-round.  We used a chainsaw to cut slabs off the top of the tree and spudbars to pry it open.   The bees were not amused.  I took 50 hits that day and learned many hard lessons.  If the tree fell hard it could be a huge mess of honey, comb, brood, dead bees, debris, etc.  Also, if you have to chainsaw be very aware of the structural integrity of the tree trunk.  As I made my last cut into the trunk of an approx. 24-30" oak, it popped and the whole trunk dropped about 6 inches with me standing on top of the stupid thing.  I bout peed myself, that much tree can be very dangerous.  Take someone with you and be very careful.

Pill

[iddee]

Doing brood only, you won't fill many frames.

[annette]

I helped to do a cutout in a downed oak tree this season. We chainsawed the limb very gently until the hive was exposed. We were expecting to get stung like crazy, but this hive was so, so gentle. They were covered in sawdust and never even flew up at us.

I finally took my gloves off because they were so gentle. It took several hours to get them out and not one sting.  This probably is unusual, but you never know.  I now have this wonderful hive and they are building up very well.

Good Luck
Annette

[glenn c hile]

I got a call this morning from a fellow who has to cut down a dead tree later this week with a hive about 30 feet up the tree.  Amateurs (back yard lumber jacks) doing the tree felling so no big equipment.  Tree will likely come crashing down.  Trying to figure out a way to save the bees.  Guess I will have to just stand by and hope for the best and that when it hits the ground they don't get too scrambled.

[Kathyp]

they should be cutting it down in sections if they have no heavy equipment.  if you can identify the section with the bees in it, at least you might be able to take that part home and remove them as you can.  if they drop it, the hive is probably going to be pretty messed up and it's getting late in the season.  salvage what you can and if you don't get enough and don't get the queen, combine them.

it's worth a shot to try to save them.  these are the kind of bees that are better able to survive without treatment.

[glenn c hile]

I am going to stop by and take a look on the way home today.  When I talked to the guy on the phone it sounded like they planned to just cut the bottom and let it fall.  They had already scoped out where it was going to land (in a neighbors yard, which might be the only reason they are concerned about the bees). 

[harvey]

We had lots of heavy rain today and I didn't get to go look at the bees.  After a heavy down pour and being on the ground for a week do you think it is still viable to try and salvage the colony?

[AllenF]

Yes, it never hurts to at least look at the hive.  I once had a storm come one night and I did not see that a limb had hit the top of a hive and cracked the top and warped the top super.  It rained for the entire day after the storm and they started to get robbed out on the second day when I found them.  The hive was on its side and all the boxes were  scattered.  The bees made it as I put everything back together or replaced it.  A day of rain did not hurt them exposed.   If the bees are still in that tree, I think they are ok.

[Kathyp]

allen is right.  i picked up a swam that took me 4 days to get out of a truck frame.  they were soggy and i figured most would die.   instead, they are thriving.  nothing ventured....etc.