I will be setting a trap for a colony in a house in Greensboro Friday. Any one interested in watching or helping is invited. I expect it to take a few weeks to complete the trapout, so there may be a few opportunities for some nice photos.
If interested, call me at 336-302-2708.
Trapping bees from a house
Tried to plan for it
Wally,
I tried to plan for it, however, as always my two days off from the fire station went down hill fast. I have spent two days running and have not gotten anything accomplished. Some days I feel like a golf cart on wet grass, simply spinning and not going any place.
How did the trap out go? I suppose that you placed brood in a box outside the trap-out cone? What are the chances of the queen recognizing something wrong, when no bees are coming back into the colony, and her coming out as well and going to the brood? Does this ever happen, or do you alway count on the bees raising a queen?
I would have loved to been there, for I am sure it would have answered a ton of questions.
I tried to plan for it, however, as always my two days off from the fire station went down hill fast. I have spent two days running and have not gotten anything accomplished. Some days I feel like a golf cart on wet grass, simply spinning and not going any place.
How did the trap out go? I suppose that you placed brood in a box outside the trap-out cone? What are the chances of the queen recognizing something wrong, when no bees are coming back into the colony, and her coming out as well and going to the brood? Does this ever happen, or do you alway count on the bees raising a queen?
I would have loved to been there, for I am sure it would have answered a ton of questions.
I removed a frame of bees, eggs, open larva, capped pupa from one of my hives. Kurt, thanks for the glass carrier I won at the meeting, it works great for carrying one frame of bees. I erected scaffolding up to the entrance and drilled a 1 1/2 in. hole in the wall to give a flat surface on which to install the funnel. I then installed the funnel, filled the large entrance with cloth and capped with aerosol foam. I then placed the frame of bees in the catch hive and sat it as close as possible to the funnel. The bees begin going in within 3 to 4 minutes.
When I left an hour later, I estimated there were about 3 frames of bees in the box, and another 500 trying to decide where to go.
I will go back Monday or Tuesday to see how they are doing. I expect to have a box full then and have to start another one with another frame of eggs and brood. Any time I am going to be there, you are welcome to come and take photos, as long as it is limited to about two people per visit.
When I left an hour later, I estimated there were about 3 frames of bees in the box, and another 500 trying to decide where to go.
I will go back Monday or Tuesday to see how they are doing. I expect to have a box full then and have to start another one with another frame of eggs and brood. Any time I am going to be there, you are welcome to come and take photos, as long as it is limited to about two people per visit.