want my bees back

[theBeeLord]

so one of my hives (right before the winter cold) decided to move into a nearby tree. (nearby as in 200 yards or so).
it's on the property - tree's about a foot in diameter. hole's a couple inches at most, about 10 feet off ground.
we can cut the tree down - if need be.
but my question is - what's the best (and by best i mean quickest, simplest) way to do that?
i don't have a bee vac (just fyi)

[HomeSteadDreamer]

so they are in a hole in the tree where you can only see traffic coming or going. Or you can see a big ball of bees.

[Cedar Hill]

    You could go to Walmart and buy a Hot Shot pest strip.   Cut it lengthwise into smaller 1/2" strips.   Push the smaller strips into the hole, as many as you can.   Get ready to collect the bees because within about two days or less, usually less, they will all come out.   They might cluster nearby where you can get them.   You wanted "quick", this is about the quickest I know.    OMTCW

[theBeeLord]

i don't see the bees balled up.
they've been there all winter.  i see them coming and going.

will the pest strips get the queen out?

[Cedar Hill]

   The pest strip will get them ALL out.    Have used it many times over the years.   OMTCW

[theBeeLord]

so i shouldn't cut down the tree?

should i have the empty hive sitting next to the tree with some lemongrass oil inside it?

[sc-bee]

   You could go to Walmart and buy a Hot Shot pest strip.   Cut it lengthwise into smaller 1/2" strips.   Push the smaller strips into the hole, as many as you can.   Get ready to collect the bees because within about two days or less, usually less, they will all come out.   They might cluster nearby where you can get them.   You wanted "quick", this is about the quickest I know.    OMTCW

You are going to use a pesticide to collect the bees from the tree. New one on me ???

[HomeSteadDreamer]

    You could go to Walmart and buy a Hot Shot pest strip.   Cut it lengthwise into smaller 1/2" strips.   Push the smaller strips into the hole, as many as you can.   Get ready to collect the bees because within about two days or less, usually less, they will all come out.   They might cluster nearby where you can get them.   You wanted "quick", this is about the quickest I know.    OMTCW

Alan this person thinks they are being funny.  Please don't take the advice seriously.  If they have been there all winter you have a bee tree.  Search this site for key word bee tree and you'll get some ideas.  You most likely will want to do some form of a cut out to get the queen.

Since I haven't done a bee tree I'll leave it to more expert advisors to help you.

[GSF]

"If" I had a bee tree, about the only thing I would do is set out swarm traps.

[sc-bee]

    You could go to Walmart and buy a Hot Shot pest strip.   Cut it lengthwise into smaller 1/2" strips.   Push the smaller strips into the hole, as many as you can.   Get ready to collect the bees because within about two days or less, usually less, they will all come out.   They might cluster nearby where you can get them.   You wanted "quick", this is about the quickest I know.    OMTCW

Alan this person thinks they are being funny.  Please don't take the advice seriously. 

If so.... seems like a reason to shut the troll down  :thunder:

[theBeeLord]

maybe they thought it was a good April Fool's joke?

been reading up on "bee trees" --- sounds like if i cut it down i'm gonna need to keep it upright and not let it fall (hadn't thought about that).

how effective are swarm traps?  or should i say -- what's the most effective method that you have used?

[Cedar Hill]

    Before commenting, maybe you should just try it.   OMTCW ;)

[rober]

one of many videos on you tube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTqFbiaD_js

[Kathyp]

a tree that size will throw swarms each year.  probably more than one.  why not leave the bees and put out some swarm traps.  you save the hive, the tree, and you get bees (hopefully) and all with very little effort.

the only thing i would be concerned about is how damaged is the tree that it can hold a hive?  if the tree is not where it will be a bother if it happens to come down, i'd leave it.

[theBeeLord]

the tree is at the back of the property -- on the edge of the parking lot of a university (like university of phoenix or something).

i guess we could leave the tree alone --- we just wanted to make sure to get our bees back (assuming it's our bees that have taken up residence there).

will a swarm lure work on making them leave the tree and coming back into their box hive if i put it next to the tree?

[Kathyp]

we just wanted to make sure to get our bees back (assuming it's our bees that have taken up residence there).

you can cut down the tree and dig them out.  in that case, you run a reasonably good risk of losing them, the queen, etc.  you can leave them and put out swarm traps and harvest the swarms that it will throw.  those are pretty much your choices.

a swarm trap will not cause the hive to abandon the tree for your box.  a swarm trap is not a guarantee that they will enter your trap.  if it is properly baited and placed, you have a good chance of collecting the swarms.  read up on that.

your choice...but cutting a hive out of a tree is a project and for someone inexperienced, a pretty big risk. 

[theBeeLord]

so it sounds like my two options (that i'm willing to do) are
1. trap out
2. cut out

waiting (and hoping) for a swarm is not an option.  we want the bees out of the tree.  i had heard that sometimes with a trapout you don't get the queen.  i could bring in a frame of eggs from another hive so they can make another queen ... but .........       i'm also leery of leaving a hive close to the parking lot where it would attract attention and someone messing with bees/hive.  (there's no fence between parking lot and property). 

basically i have NOTHING to lose - can't lose what i don't already have.  but i'd like to gain both bees and experience. 

[chux]

Alan, Sounds like you are in a hurry. When I get rushed, I usually end up making a poor decision or doing a poor job. Usually. But you may not have that problem.

I'm not really sure why you want the bees out of the tree. If you want them out because they are in a dangerous place for pedestrians, or you believe some idiot is going to spray them, hurry along by all means. If you want them out of the tree because you want more bees in your hives, you may be well served to think it through some more. Last year I found a massive colony in an old abandoned house, and couldn't get over there fast enough to cut them out. I filled about 3 deeps with brood comb and bees. There were swarm cells, but no queen. I split the colony into two different hives with swarm cells. There were tons of brood and bees. Both hives collapsed. Multiple reasons. But what if I had left them there and put out swarm traps? This colony was casting multiple swarms. One had already left with the old queen the day before I got there to cut them out. I could have captured swarms for years off that colony, but I destroyed it in my haste.

After that incident, I got calls and did several cutouts of bees from houses and structures for folks. Most hives are doing well now. Just stop and count the cost. You may be much better off in the long run, having more bees, if you leave these girls in the tree and set up swarm traps. Either way, you will learn some good lessons. Have a blast. 

[theBeeLord]

the hurry is not so much for me -- i mean, yes, i'd rather have the bees than have them leave the tree and go somewhere else, but mainly, the hurry is due to the fact that it's near a parking lot (there's ppl dumping trash on the property - and it's probably a matter of time before some genius messes with them or something similar. 

[theBeeLord]

got the bees out of the tree.  queen and all.  good 9 hours worth of work, but overall worth it.
here's the link to the pictures for those interested.
https://www.flickr.com/gp/122785874@N05/Q29gc1/