Swarm Parking Places.

[splitrock]

Picked up 2 approx. basketball sized swarms out of a lady's backyard 15 days apart. They were on the same bush, even on the same place on the same branch.

We now know that there is a bee tree in her front yard and after we talked about it, she is fine with it being there.

We are just about to Really have things flowing up here now, and I am wondering if I can expect this hive to throw swarms at about the same intervals for a while? Also am wondering if it is likely they will continue to use the location since they have used it twice that I know of, and to them, it must appear they have good luck finding new homes rather quickly from the place?

Joel

[Scadsobees]

Cool!  Handy to know about!

They'll probably swarm just the twice, but it is possible to swarm more often.  The first swarm had the old queen, the second was an after-swarm and likely had a virgin queen in it.

Ask her to watch it, and it might be a good spot to get a swarm trap put up next year.

[danno]

I catch swarms in the same places year after year.  If you put a swarm trap in that spot you will catch one provided the colony thats throwing them stays healthy.  If not this year, next year would be a good bet.   Baseball size is very small.  I would bet these were after swarms and the big one got away.  This is a pic from yesterday.  This is basketball + size.  This is the 2nd giant one in the exact same spot in 2 weeks and the same spot as a huge one last year

[splitrock]

 " Baseball size is very small. "

I said approx. basKetball size,,,,  it was not huge by any means.

Thanks for the info.

Joel

[BlueBee]

I agree with the others, the swarms often land in the same location and often the same exact branch.  I've caught about 24 swarms this spring; usually very close to a colony.  A big hive seems to throw off a large prime swarm and then 2 or 3 after swarms about a week later.  

The big prime swarm supposedly departs when the swarm cells are capped.  That means the hive will be queenless (and won't swarm again) until the new queens hatch out about 7 to 8 days in the future.  When the queens start hatching from the queen cells, at least a few of them seem likely take off with some of the bees and create after swarms.  These swarms are usually football sized or smaller.  

So to answer the OP question:  Assuming the basketball sized swarms were prime swarms, I would expect a few smaller swarms in about 7 to 8 days.  After that, they may be done for the season.  

Swarming seems to be winding down around me at the present time.

[danno]

" Baseball size is very small. "

I said approx. basKetball size,,,,  it was not huge by any means.

Thanks for the info.

Joel

sorry Joe
guess I need new glasses

[skatesailor]

That's one of the reasons that I try not to cut branches when I'm hiving a swarm. I have had repeated success from some of the same spots year after year.
Also while I'm at it, let me suggest that newbees site their hives near dwarf fruit trees or low shrubs to increase their chance of catching their swarms. Most of my hives sit between an open field and my peach and plum orchard. Most of my swarms aren't 6 ft off the ground. The two that sit next to the woods occasionally present a height problem.

[Jim134]

" Baseball size is very small. "

I said approx. basKetball size,,,,  it was not huge by any means.

Thanks for the info.

Joel

sorry Joe
guess I need new glasses

OMG  :evil:



     BEE HAPPY Jim 134 :)