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Tis the Season

  • 9 May 2024 10:09 PM
    Message # 13354859
    Anonymous member (Administrator)

    https://youtube.com/shorts/D0oQlwEjz2w

    Toby in Verboort asked me to collect this swarm.

    Size = 2 basketballs +

    I used 2 used deeps with a mix of frames drawn comb and honey, parked that under the swarm and shook a few bees into the box.

    Waited 15 min and shook a few more bees in the box, then sat back and watched the magic happen! Very intense with 20# of bees in the air as they moved into the box!

    I was very worried that the queen might get hit by passing traffic. All seems well they get a nice spot on the Blueberry Farm first thing tomorrow.

    Last modified: 11 May 2024 12:26 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)
  • 10 May 2024 8:47 AM
    Reply # 13355069 on 13354859
    Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Very nice... Never heard of this particular approach to swarm capture. But it makes sense... Recruit a few Scout Bees... and then a few more until they all vote to move in. Thanks for sharing!

    Last modified: 10 May 2024 8:47 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)
  • 11 May 2024 12:24 PM
    Reply # 13355474 on 13354859
    Anonymous member (Administrator)

    It was easier and more fun than vacuuming. Probably took the same amount of time as you would have to wait til sundown for the bees to stop flying.

    Also No guarantee that you will get the queen when you vacuum them.

    I was worried when they rev'd up to move into the box that they had found another place. It was a huge cloud of bees in the air for an 8ft move....

    They were very docile even on the shake, except for when the queen was on the move. It felt like the guards cleared the path for the queen to fly. That was the only time I needed gear during the capture. That video was made with no gear on, but that "one bee" chased me into the bushes shortly after when the queen moved.

    Another reason it was successful was 2 small shakes, I could have scooped them off the cluster with a used frame, or the "Yappy way" by hand. That did not disrupt the cluster so they stayed on focus. No need to traumatize the cluster. Show enough bees the box without disrupting the process was my goal.

    Trust the bees, I could see when i made the first shake they were going to move in. As soon as the bees realized they had found a Hilton Suite, they had their butts in the air. When I set them up on the hive stand in the AM, they had already started cleaning house, a nice pile of debris ejected in my van overnight.

    Used boxes and a mix of used junk frames, nice drawn comb and newly waxed foundation, are a welcome home sign for a swarm!

    Last modified: 11 May 2024 12:48 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)
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