Calming the swarm

bozbee · April 16, 2007, 04:18:35 PM

Question: Someone told me that playing church music or ringing a cow bell will calm the bees down during or before the swarm. any truth to that? Thanks

LET-CA · April 16, 2007, 04:29:16 PM

Some people try to make a swarm land by making a loud noise, i.e. banging a large piece of sheet metal. I think it's supposed to sound like a thunderclap. I've never seen any evidence that it's effective. Swarms are generally pretty calm (not agressive). It just looks crazy because of the numbers of bees in flight. They are very interested in landing with the queen and then finding a new home.

Michael Bush · April 16, 2007, 08:45:50 PM

IF it works by simulating thunder, then it would be important that the sound actually sound like thunder and not a cow bell. For all I know it might work if you got the right pitch and not work if it wasn't the right pitch. Then again maybe it doesn't work at all. :)

Brian D. Bray · April 21, 2007, 04:25:32 PM

Its called tinging. I've used it a lot of times successfully and few few time unsuccessfully. The key is not the tone so much as a slow rythmatic beat. Pounding on the top of your telescopic top with your hive tool works as well as ringing a bell. If you want the bees to land do some tinging and use your garden hose to mist the swarm in the air with water. Bees do not like to swarm in a thunder storm. Thunder Storms often have rain. Using the 2 together will work every time.

A sudden lound noise will usually cause the swarm to land--any sudden loud noise. In tinging it is important to note that if the land and a storm does not materialize they will soon become airborne again. Tinging, if successful, gives the beekeeper a narrow window in which to hive the swarm before it moves on.

LET-CA · April 22, 2007, 12:29:16 PM

Quote from: Brian D. Bray on April 21, 2007, 04:25:32 PM
Its called tinging. I've used it a lot of times successfully and few few time unsuccessfully. The key is not the tone so much as a slow rythmatic beat. Pounding on the top of your telescopic top with your hive tool works as well as ringing a bell. If you want the bees to land do some tinging and use your garden hose to mist the swarm in the air with water. Bees do not like to swarm in a thunder storm. Thunder Storms often have rain. Using the 2 together will work every time.

A sudden lound noise will usually cause the swarm to land--any sudden loud noise. In tinging it is important to note that if the land and a storm does not materialize they will soon become airborne again. Tinging, if successful, gives the beekeeper a narrow window in which to hive the swarm before it moves on.

Great explanation! I've never heard the details before. Thanks for sharing.

Cindi · April 22, 2007, 12:56:03 PM

Bees are very sensitive to barometric pressure. They don't like thunder, eminent storm coming on, aren't they wise.

I loved Brian's information on "tinging". That was pretty neat to hear. Have a wonderful day, great health to all of us. Cindi

JP · April 22, 2007, 01:16:15 PM

Perhaps the church music would get them down if the tinging don't!

Cindi · April 23, 2007, 02:18:32 AM

JP, change your avitar. it is very distracting and not a nice thing to look at. It is as bad as Brendhan's, with his watchful eye. Sorry, I speak my mind. Cindi

Understudy · April 23, 2007, 06:32:47 AM

Quote from: Cindi on April 23, 2007, 02:18:32 AM
JP, change your avitar. it is very distracting and not a nice thing to look at. It is as bad as Brendhan's, with his watchful eye. Sorry, I speak my mind. Cindi

Cindi,
He has Domo-kun for his avatar. A mascot for a japanesse TV station. Despite the big pointy teeth, Domo-kun is very nice. He lives in a cave with a rabbit. He has a tendancy to fart when nervous. Domo-kun is very popular with japanesse school kids.

Sincerely,
Brendhan

imabkpr · April 23, 2007, 07:16:26 AM

The story you are talking about, making a swarm of bees land by making a loud noise started in Europe many many decades ago.

When someone was in persuit of a swarm of honeybees they would bang on a wash tub, metal bucket or whatever to let others know that the swarm of bees had been claimed. It had nothing to do with getting the bees to land That part must have been added later by researchers True or not, I don't know. Charlie,

Cindi · April 23, 2007, 11:20:25 AM

Charlie, now that was an interesting point of historic story. I love to hear the stories of times of old. I would listen to my husbands grandmother for hours, she was 92 when she passed, that was about 15 years ago. I have never done the math, but I bet she could have have more stories to tell. I wished that I could have asked her things about bees, I bet she had stories about that too. She was a prairie girl, hard times, and I bet she had a neighbour or two that kept bees. Best of this beautiful day, good health to all. Cindi

JP · April 24, 2007, 12:48:50 AM

Cindi, just cover your eyes when you read Brendhan and my posts...Grrrrrrrrr :-D

KONASDAD · April 24, 2007, 11:46:09 AM

A recent article in ABJ or BJ, cant recall which, debunked "tinging". The article said bees often land in proximity of the hive they leave, and they would land there w/o tinging. The article doesn't really offer any "real" info. I would love to try it anyways.

Brian D. Bray · April 25, 2007, 01:47:02 AM

According to my Mentor, who started beekeeping in 1899, coached me on tinging and had been doing it since he started. My greatgrandfather also used to ting bees--He learned it from his father who learned it from his father back in Germany. That makes it use close to 200 years by my count.

reinbeau · April 25, 2007, 07:50:28 AM

Your mentor started beekeeping in 1899? Who is it, Obi-wan Kenobi? :-D

Cindi · April 25, 2007, 09:11:08 AM

Ann, now got a good laugh out of your comment. But what I would really like to know is, how on earth did you know how to spell this old dude's name? AH, ha. Have a wonderful and beautiful day, wishes of good health to all. Cindi

reinbeau · April 25, 2007, 04:34:16 PM

Obi-wan Kenobi? You do know who he is, right? You can't possibly be more movie-ignorant than I am - the last movie I saw was the original Harry Potter movie! :-D

I only saw the first two Star Wars movies, too.

KONASDAD · April 25, 2007, 04:53:39 PM

Mr. Bray, have you read the article? I would love to get your thoughts. It references historical sources and anecdotal stories. If you dont get bee mags, PM your addy and I send a hard copy for ya'. I have no idea if it works, but i hope i get the opportunity to try as it would be neat to watch'em collect and cluster. I finished reading Fifty Years among the bees by Miller, and I loved the historical stuff. He paid $7US for bees at end of civil war for ex. That was a lot of money back then.

Cindi · April 25, 2007, 06:28:40 PM

Quote from: reinbeau on April 25, 2007, 04:34:16 PM
Obi-wan Kenobi? You do know who he is, right? You can't possibly be more movie-ignorant than I am - the last movie I saw was the original Harry Potter movie! :-D

I only saw the first two Star Wars movies, too.

Ann, ha, ya, do know who this old dude is, I loved him in the Star Wars movies. I am actually pretty movie-ignorant though when you get right down to it. I watch movies, but fall asleep half way through unless they are a gripping murder, who dun it style, mystery is my gig. Have the beautiful, wonderful, day, great health. Cindi