1st Swarm Call and What a Swarm!!!

Mike Tuggle · May 28, 2011, 03:31:35 PM

First swarm call of the year for me that wasn't a cutout. Large primary swarm in Hyde Park, NY, from a hollow maple 40' away from where it settled in a blue spruce.
http://FileLibrary.MYAASite.Com/Content/0/499/35074352.jpg
I weighed my boxes and my vacuum before and after -- this was a 15# wonder.

I got most last night but went back this morning for 6# more! Homeowners want me to come back and do a trap out on the tree in a couple of weeks.

Mike

JP · May 28, 2011, 03:55:01 PM

A swarm on a Christmas tree. How nice!

...JP

gardeningfireman · May 28, 2011, 05:52:06 PM

Now that is a LOT of bees!! Did you put them into one hive, or split them into two or three?

Kathyp · May 28, 2011, 06:01:00 PM

to bad they won't let the hive stay. that's the kind of queen you hate to lose.

joebrown · May 28, 2011, 09:39:01 PM

Nice Swarm there!!

schawee · May 28, 2011, 09:47:37 PM

thats a nice catch . ...schawee

TwoHoneys · May 28, 2011, 10:19:50 PM

Holy cow.

-Liz

Mike Tuggle · May 28, 2011, 11:00:01 PM

In response to the 'how many boxes' question, I put them into my first (big) top bar hive. I have the follower (separator board) about at the mid-point. (These will be my first non-Lang bees.)

I put a bunch of grass in the entrance holes to slow things down a bit but before I ever got everything buttoned up, I could see some bees working in teams to put the strands out. By late afternoon, traffic looked asolutely normal -- we have a great flow on right now. Honey Locust will be coming in next week.

Can't wait to see how they develop. Even with all the box-dumping and such, I didn't even get any head net bumping. They really are a mix of genetics. Some are very Italian looking; some look like Russians; some are jet black.

I think I'll just let them bee for two or three days before I check for comb-building.

bee-nuts · May 29, 2011, 04:11:29 AM

Quote from: kathyp on May 28, 2011, 06:01:00 PM
to bad they won't let the hive stay. that's the kind of queen you hate to lose.

He should have the prime swarm and old queen, but i agree, its a shame to lose that bee tree colony. I would love to come back for the swarms from it every year.

As big as that was could be several smaller after swarms as well. Might want to set some swarm traps up.

Mike Tuggle · May 30, 2011, 01:41:55 PM

Reply to Kathy--

I will set up a swarm trap back there in Hyde Park, addition to my trap-out rig, but remember, I have that wonderful mixed-genetics queen.

And, I was just out there -- they are pulling lots of nice straight white comb on the top bars. They are sooooooooooo gentle, too. :)

Mike