Swarm Pic

Cindi · November 22, 2006, 10:21:40 AM

After looking at swarm pics on the forum I thought I would dig up one of my pics of a swarm we caught. My brother-in-law in a neighbouring district about 45 km away phoned me last spring and said that he had a swarm in a tree in his front yard and did I want it. Now this is about an hour travel from my place and being during a really busy time of the year, I decided that I would not bother. This was Sunday. On Wednesday he phoned and said the swarm as STILL there, so I said, ya, let's do it. So my husband and I packed up our stuff and headed to the city. He said that it would be really easy to get, it was not up too high. This was my first swarm catching attempt myself, so I did not have a clue, but thought that I would give it a whirl. First, it was up pretty high I would say, certainly not what I pictured. I brought my bee garb and all, I figured they would probably not be as docile as they may have been when the first came there, 3 days prior. Anyways to make a long story short, we caught the swarm, brought it home and it is still one of my best hives. I am pretty sure the breed is Carionlan because the queen was so dark, really dark. The hive flourished and was strong all summer, it is still strong as we are going into winter. But about 2 months ago I was checking this colony and I noticed that the dark queen was not there anymore, the queen was now quite light coloured. Guess this poor old girl must have been superceded, too bad, because she was certainly a great layer I would say, but I guess the bees know best. This swarm is no way near even the size of so many of the pics that I have seen, but it was fun.

We went on later that spring to catch another one at my cousins, who lives quite close. I was little more braver this time and did not bring any protection. That was a mistake for sure. Man, this was quite a small swarm that was on a branch that we could reach on a little pine tree. But was high enough that we still had to cut the branch. I tried to hold it up, my husband had asked me if I could do hold it while he cut it off. Now working on a farm 365 days a year, I thought I was pretty strong. What a joke!!! Guess I am not as strong as I thought I was. He cut the branch, I held it and the branch fell....Yikes!!! Many of the bees fell too...Oh brother, I could feel the bees clinging on my face, I know what it said when if you feel closely, you can feel the feet grasp, getting ready for the stinger being averted. I got about 5 stings on my face and about 4 on my forearms, I looked a little funny for a couple of days, but lessons learned, ya gotta laugh. Catching the swarms was fun and made me feel good that they would have a new home. I can't wait for people wanting to be rescued from bees in their yard next year. Cindi

pdmattox · November 22, 2006, 03:41:39 PM

That is a very good swarm pic. Good job. :mrgreen:

newbee101 · November 22, 2006, 07:23:30 PM

sweet! :-D

Kirk-o · January 01, 2007, 11:09:24 AM

That Pic is a beauty I'll tell you
kirko

Michael Bush · January 01, 2007, 03:16:33 PM

I don't climb ladders for swarms anymore:

http://www.beeequipment.com/products.asp?pcode=270

Brian D. Bray · January 01, 2007, 05:11:24 PM

I don't climb ladders anymore either, they're too steep for my wheelchair.

Cindi · January 02, 2007, 01:20:25 AM

Michael, holy mackadooderal!!!! I am going to investigate this marvelous bucket for swarm catching. I anticipate to be really busy this year trying to catch all the swarms that I can around my vicinity. I am going to be a busy, busy girl this spring. Hope that I can keep the best care of my own back yard so that I don't have swarms. But if I do. Watch out, I will get them. LOL.

I actually had a lot of fun catching the two swarms that I did last spring, and anticipate with all the daydreamin' I have been doing about the swarm catch and how to do it, I am gonna have the time of my life. Great day. Winter solstace becoming historical data. Dog days of summer comin' on. Cindi

Scott Derrick · January 02, 2007, 01:33:01 AM

Eww...I want one of those. Cindi I am like you when it comes to swarm catchin. I absolutely love it. I actually get a rush when I go after them in the spring. I have all my beequipment in the back of my vehicle and my phones forwarded to my cell. I'm ready to go at a moments notice. Thats part of the reason why I started swarmremoval.com I am hoping it can help me support my habit so to speak.

I love the pic!!

Scott

Cindi · January 02, 2007, 10:44:29 AM

Scott that picture of me and my husband taking the swarm was taken by my sister-in-law, she forwarded a copy of it to me, I'm not sure what program she used to put the frame around it, but I think she did do a pretty good job.

When I caught a swarm at my cousin's house last summer, I did not have a veil on. I could not completely hold the branch up that my husband had to catch and the swarm ball branch fell close to my face and some bees got very upset. I have never noticed before how the bees do actually grab with their hind legs to get the grasp to give you their stinger. I could feel on my face several of the bees grabbing on, I knew it reward was coming in seconds and that it did. I think that I got about 5 stings. That did not deter me though, I am "sisu", meaning stubborn. I went on to catch this swarm at my sister-in-laws house about a week later, but with head gear and suit. LOL.

The swarm at my sister-in-law's house had been there for about 5 days, so their resources were getting low, and they were probably a little more cranky, beginning to get kind of hungry I would take it. But they were actually very gentle. They turned out to be Carniolan beauties. Summer comin' on, before we know it. Great day. Cindi