Bee Swarm

Started by MrILoveTheAnts, May 11, 2007, 10:25:55 PM

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MrILoveTheAnts

May 11, 2007, 10:25:55 PM
This morning I saw the hive acting normal. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v735/mrilovetheants/Bees/Calm.jpg
Though I knew a swarm was bound to happen, I still went out to the gardening store to buy more flowers. I'm experimenting a little this year by picking something with a compound flower.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v735/mrilovetheants/Bees/Flowers.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v735/mrilovetheants/Bees/Flowers2.jpg
I forget their name at the moment.

As I was planting them I kept looking at my hive thinking today would be the perfect day for them to swarm. It didn't take long at all to confirm this though.
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v735/mrilovetheants/Bees/?action=view&current=P5110045.flv
Thousands of bees started pouring out of the hive and taking to the sky. The low res of this video doesn't do the swarm justice. There's at least 3 layers of tiny dots and even smaller dots not seen above them all.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v735/mrilovetheants/Bees/Swarm.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v735/mrilovetheants/Bees/Swarm2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v735/mrilovetheants/Bees/Swarm3.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v735/mrilovetheants/Bees/Swarm4.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v735/mrilovetheants/Bees/Swarm5.jpg

They were air born for about 10 minutes but then landed on a nearby tree (still in my yard).
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v735/mrilovetheants/Bees/?action=view&current=P5110055.flv

They're about 50 feet high up and on a part of the tree I can't get to. The branches are to thin for a ladder and I don't have the poll saw for the job.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v735/mrilovetheants/Bees/Land.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v735/mrilovetheants/Bees/Mass.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v735/mrilovetheants/Bees/Mass2.jpg
I want to say that it's about 25,000 bees.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v735/mrilovetheants/Bees/Under.jpg

They are still up there and have quieted down for now. It's likely they'll take off somewhere else in the morning. In the mean time they remain pretty well hidden up in the tree. 
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v735/mrilovetheants/Bees/Hidden.jpg

I'm barrowing a small hive with Lemmongrass oil stained inside it. The odor attracts the bees to it and will hopefully entice them to enter the box, and make it their home. If that happens and I'm around to film it I'll have a front row seat to a great rush of bees blanketing the table the box sits on.

I'll update what happens tomorrow.

nepenthes

#1
May 11, 2007, 10:26:51 PM
Too cool, I like the shots of the swarm in the tree!
"I have never wished to cater to the crowd, for what I know they do not approve, and what they approve I do not know." - Epicurus.

newbee101

#2
May 11, 2007, 10:54:19 PM
My swarm last year, they were in the tree 4 days.
Awsome pictures and video!
"To bee or not to bee"

mick

#3
May 11, 2007, 11:21:47 PM
They say all you have to do to get em back is place a hive att he base of the tree and drum on it and they will fly back to it.

Kathyp

#4
May 12, 2007, 12:27:15 AM
mick has it.  go sit under the tree and drum on your box.  just make sure to take pictures for us!!   :-D
The people the people are the rightful masters of both congresses and courts not to overthrow the Constitution, but to overthrow the men who pervert it.

Abraham  Lincoln
Speech in Kansas, December 1859

abejaruco

#5
May 12, 2007, 01:30:33 AM
Any times, not always, the swarm does not want the empty hives that you offer. Perhaps any bees are very independent and want to open way, or perhaps they think, in a pride way, that the hive is small.
I would move the branch till the ball of bees falls from the top to the floor, and them they use the hive that you want. Other times I use a long reed with a bucket tied to catch it, I am very persistent. :evil:

The drum only in Carnival  :-D, my neighbors would think that I am crazy playing the drum under a tree.

MrILoveTheAnts

#6
May 12, 2007, 10:47:04 AM
no go, they took off somewhere in a N/NE direction at 9:00am. For anyone in that area help yourself to them if you come across them.

Mici

#7
May 12, 2007, 01:16:44 PM
some great pictures of a swarm!

smallswarm

#8
May 13, 2007, 09:44:50 AM
Quote from: MrILoveTheAnts on May 12, 2007, 10:47:04 AM
no go, they took off somewhere in a N/NE direction at 9:00am.

I feel so sorry for you. That's heartbreaking. Maybe that swarm found a really great place to live in the wild forest. The more feral bee colonies, the better, I believe.

MrILoveTheAnts

#9
May 14, 2007, 01:17:13 PM
Ok what is going on here. The same hive swarmed again! They landed in an even higher and more annoying tree. Does this drumming thing really work?

Understudy

#10
May 14, 2007, 01:29:40 PM
Quote from: MrILoveTheAnts on May 14, 2007, 01:17:13 PM
Ok what is going on here. The same hive swarmed again! They landed in an even higher and more annoying tree. Does this drumming thing really work?
In my opinion , no.
Clairification: That is if you are trying to encourage them to come out of the trunk of a tree, then no I do not believe it does.
If you are trying to encourage them to land, maybe. I haven't tried that.

Sincerely,
Brendhan
The status is not quo. The world is a mess and I just need to rule it. Dr. Horrible

MrILoveTheAnts

#11
May 14, 2007, 01:40:47 PM
Looks like I'm going to say goodbye to another third of my hive then. There's no way I can climb this tree, and it's nothing but tiny prickly branches as hard as wood.

Understudy

#12
May 14, 2007, 02:00:26 PM
Ahhh, but you need to sow them some new real estate.
If you have a hive or a swarm trap move it about out about a 1/4 mile if possible. Put some lemongrass oil and a little comb in it. Maybe that way they move there. Then all you have to do is move them back. Your odds are not great but it is better than doing nothing. Always keep a swarm trap setup on the property if possibel or somewhee close to it. So if they swarm while you are at work then you may not have to worry as much.


Sincerely,
Brendhan
The status is not quo. The world is a mess and I just need to rule it. Dr. Horrible

abejaruco

#13
May 14, 2007, 02:21:19 PM
MrIlovetheAnts! Open the hive, man! Open the hive! :-D
There are not 2 without 3! Stop the swarm fever!

And pruning the maldito tree! :-D

abejaruco

#14
May 14, 2007, 02:28:20 PM
Can´t you send a string to the branch and shake it? Use a stone binds to the rope.

Mici

#15
May 14, 2007, 03:24:20 PM
like abejaruco said, shake 'em down! preferably in a box nearby!!
or at least set up a swarm trap, more than one!

MrILoveTheAnts

#16
May 14, 2007, 06:14:48 PM
Alright I've just split the parent hive in two. Hopefully this will stop any further swarming from either of them. This will be my third split on that hive (not counting the 2 swarms). I've given up with catching that swarm now. Not just because I'm out of boxes but also because they're just to high up there. If they come down lower or get caught by my friends swarm lore I'll have to order another box or something.

Is this wrong to let the bees fly into someone else's yard where they might become a problem?

Mici

#17
May 14, 2007, 07:03:44 PM
Quote from: MrILoveTheAnts on May 14, 2007, 06:14:48 PM
Is this wrong to let the bees fly into someone else's yard where they might become a problem?

yes they might become a problem, but the good thing is...not your :-D.

KONASDAD

#18
May 15, 2007, 03:47:50 PM
First, you are planting what looks like bleep-comb flower. Second, send your bees east next time to my house. My swarm lure hive is out and ready(fearful mine is about to swarm despite lots of room).
"The more complex the Mind, the Greater the need for the simplicity of Play".
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