Captured a swarm

[GWDawg1]

Captured a pretty big swarm last Monday(first one), put them in a 5 frame nuc box and sealed the entrance.  Opened the entrance up late Monday afternoon.  Bees were coming and going, waggling as they went into the box.  Didn't bother them at all, just watched from about 6-8 feet away.  Tuesday after lunch I go out and all my bees are about 25 feet up a tree out on a limb.  Can't climb the tree or otherwise get them down without a bucket truck or cutting the tree.  They have been there since Tuesday afternoon, it has been rainy here for 3 days.   I have a 10 frame deep under the limb on concrete blocks with sugar water and lgo swabs inside the hive.  I moved a couple of frames from the 5 frame box that they had started to draw comb on, but not much.  Anybody got any suggestions as to how to coax them down?  Weather forecast is for sunny this p.m.

[hardwood]

.22 rifle :-D

Scott

[BjornBee]

If I was a "pretty big swarm" and placed into a 5 frame nuc, then closed up, with heat possibly an issue, I'm sure I would leave also.

Here is some info you may find useful. I highlighted the ones that may be the cause of your swarm leaving.

10 things to consider for swarm trap success

Honey Bees.....

* prefer a swarm trap (colony location) about 8 to 15 feet off the ground.

* will disregard a trap with light coming in from above.

* prefer a trap equivalent to a cavity size slightly larger than a deep brood
   box.

* will select sites in the afternoon shade. They may abandon a site within a
   few days if in full sun and heat is an issue.

* prefer bait hives with entrances facing south.

* prefer a entrance towards the bottom of the cavity.

* prefer a unobstructed flight path from the entrance.

* will not take up residence in a bait hive that has other insects in them.
   Keep them free of wasps, yellow jackets, etc.

* prefer a bait hive that is dry.

* prefer a previously used site that has a honey bee smell of old comb, or
   one that has baited with bee scent.

[GWDawg1]

Maybe I should have said "collected" a swarm, I did not trap them.  I do think heat was the issue, it was a lot of bees and they are now clustered on the limb now about the size of a beach ball or basketball.  Entrance to the nuc box was facing south and in the afternoon shade.  I just want to try to get them out of the tree now if possible.  I would hate to shoot them down, it would be hard to round everybody up once they hit the ground.  I have thought of hoisting up some frames wired together and hope they collect on the frames, then lower them down or I have a bucket on a long pole, thought about getting in the bed of the truck on a ladder and knocking them into the bucket.

[G3farms]

Bucket duct taped to a pole, pipe, or sticks of lumber screwed together works great if you can get under them.

[Tommyt]

Try this

[Course Bee]

That is very cool. The only thing I would do different is take my wedding ring off first. If I get stung anywhere on my hand with it on I'll have to cut it off. :)

[Finski]

.
Put a 25 feet long tube to the vacuum cleaner and suck them down.

[Country Heart]

Love the bee bucket swarm capture video.   :)

[yockey5]

Cool idea and I have one of the water jugs like you have!

[backyard warrior]

not trying to add salt to the wound but a swarm that large should have a deep 10 frame box or maybe two.  A swarm put in a box that small will decide it isnt enuff room and there wasnt anything to keep them there.  For future reference if you have any other hives put a  frame of brood in the box with the bees that will keep them there they wont leave the brood.  YOu could also shake the bees in front of the hive and put a queen excluder on the front of the hive till you find the queen trying to enter the hive. You can then cage her and put her inside the hive along with a frame of open brood for a day or two. I have alot of luck using a frame of open brood this usually does the trick.  Chris   As far as losing them in the tree its kinda hard to get to them maybe try a swarm lure worse case scenario its not worth getting hurt over just write it up as a learning experience.   

[kdm]

If the limb they are on has enough room to throw a rope over. Tie on  a frame with some open brood  and pull it up to the bees. they should move over to the brood frame. Then let them down & put them in a larger brood box, frame & all . they should stay.

[backyard warrior]

Kdm very good advice if the queen climbs onto the frame as well. But usually the worker bees will fan and bring the other bees down to the box.   :cheer:

[JP]

Bucket on pole
Pole trimmer
Rope over limb
Brood comb hoisted up to the swarm
Not a bad idea at all

The more proactive you are the better chance you have at recapture.
Cage the queen or use excluder to anchor them.
By all means add another box


...JP

[iddee]

Has anyone noticed this thread is a year old?

[JP]

Bahahahaha! Iddee good eye man


...JP

[Michael Bush]

I started using QMP in addition to lemongrass oil and have had very good luck luring swarms into my bait hives at the base of the tree.  I use queen juice mostly (retired queens in alcohol) but you can buy "Pseudo queen" or other QMP replacements from the bee suppliers now.  (Mann lake used to call it "bee boost" but it seems to have morphed because of "super boost", which is brood pheromones).  I might start trying a bit of brood pheromones as well to see if it helps, although it works almost every time as it is...

[backyard warrior]

Old thread or not good info added to it maybe someone will remember and use it this spring :)

[yockey5]

I am going to make one of these with sections of PVC pipe to extend the length, or shorten it as needed. Thanks!

[rober]

a telescoping pole for paint rollers would work. they make some heavy duty ones that sope out pretty far.