Migratory Tops

[Ben Framed]

Ben,
I received a call to remove a swarm from a squirrel box. The owners watched the swarm move into this box with a family of squirrels in the box. Luckily the baby squirrels were old enough to bee able to scramble out of the hive when this happened. If those babies were a little younger, they would have been killed and would have been propalized into a mummy.
Jim

Jim, Your experiences mentioned above are very interesting. I expect you have seen even more "odd" things than you have mentioned here, as far as cut-outs and removals go? I am thinking each cut out, has its own "personalized" twist and turns as well?  Might make for a good topic?  I bet others can also add to the strange findings and circumstances while dealing with bees ?
Phillip

[BeeMaster2]

I once was able to walk with a very large swarm as it moved from a tree just as I arrived to Retrieve it. It is really neat. You have thousands of bees over head heading going in the direction you are walking at a normal walking speed and bees flying very fast at you just below head height. That is when I figured out that the scout bees are flying very fast over the hive in the direction to the new hive until they get to the front of the swarm and then they drop down below the swarm and fly to the back of the swarm until they get to the back. All of the scout bees do this.  The other bees look in and follow the scouts. If you ever get a chance, try this. K

[Ben Framed]

I once was able to walk with a very large swarm as it moved from a tree just as I arrived to Retrieve it. It is really neat. You have thousands of bees over head heading going in the direction you are walking at a normal walking speed and bees flying very fast at you just below head height. That is when I figured out that the scout bees are flying very fast over the hive in the direction to the new hive until they get to the front of the swarm and then they drop down below the swarm and fly to the back of the swarm until they get to the back. All of the scout bees do this.  The other bees look in and follow the scouts. If you ever get a chance, try this. K

Outstandind! What an experience and by being observant, you obtained even more knodlege. I did not know this about the scout bees as I have never heard or read of this. Great stuff!!

[Oldbeavo]

Can someone post a photo of a migratory top so the "down unders" know what you are talking about.
I think that is all we use but are not throw away.

[drobbins]

here's a pic from a local supplier

https://www.mannlakeltd.com/shop-all-categories/hive-components/hive-accessories/top-covers/10-frame/10-frame-migratory-top-cover

[BeeMaster2]

That is one type, most are nothing more than a piece of plywood, sometimes with a 2 3/4 inch feeder hole in the middle.
Jim

[jalentour]

I make the tops out of treated plywood with wood strips under the top at each end, a drip edge I suppose.  Most of my m-tops have flashing to reduce water wicking thru.  Frequently I place a brick, block or rock on the top to prevent warping.  They are not pretty, just functional.

[herbhome]

They work a lot better in heavy SHB country. Less area to hide.

I have found this to be true and switched to them.

[Skeggley]

All we use over here are migratory lids but it appears they are a different design to yours over there.
Can't attatch photo to show but ours are vented and leave a void above the frames. They are also flush on all sides with tin flashing. It looks like yours still sit like a telescoping lid and still telescoping on the front and back.

[Oldbeavo]

That is what we use with a 40mm frame with a ply top, 20mm insulation and a 40 turn down on the lid.
Most use vents but some don't.
They are exactly the same size as the 8 or 10 frame box for transport as most bees in Oz are migratory, 4-6 shifts per season including pollination. Tough season this year and one of our groups have just had shift 7 to try and keep them fed.