Swarm capture and excape.
Posted: Mon May 16, 2011 9:08 pm
This all started Sunday May 8 when I inspected a strong hive that was filling the 2nd deep with honey and ignoring the super of drawn comb.
I found many swarm cells and decided shake all the bees in front of the hive and cut the cells.
When I found the laying Queen she was marked red ( 09 ) so I decided to remove her and leave 2 cells hoping they would not swarm now. I also took out 1 brood frame with cells to use in another hive and put back a foundation frame.
That night I got a swarm call so Monday I drove into Burlington with a ladder and with with some help managed to get most of the bees from 25 feet up an oak tree. Thought we had the queen but could be mistaken. I weighed the box before and after capture and we had 2.5 lbs of bees. Set them off at home and went back about 2 hours later to find the box empty.
Started walking around and found a larger swarm nearby ( 100 yards ) low and easy to get. I caught them in the same box and weighed it that night. This time it was 5 lbs bees. I could be wrong but I don't think I have a hive that is missing 5 lbs bees and I am wondering if the swarm that absconded joined another 2.5 lb swarm from one of my hives that had a virgin queen.
Went through it Sat. and could not find a queen or eggs. The frame with open brood I had added was mostly capped now but I didn't see larvae in any of the queen cups.
Do you all think the first swarm may have joined the 2nd or did they just fly away?
I searched around more after catching the 2nd swarm but no luck.
I found many swarm cells and decided shake all the bees in front of the hive and cut the cells.
When I found the laying Queen she was marked red ( 09 ) so I decided to remove her and leave 2 cells hoping they would not swarm now. I also took out 1 brood frame with cells to use in another hive and put back a foundation frame.
That night I got a swarm call so Monday I drove into Burlington with a ladder and with with some help managed to get most of the bees from 25 feet up an oak tree. Thought we had the queen but could be mistaken. I weighed the box before and after capture and we had 2.5 lbs of bees. Set them off at home and went back about 2 hours later to find the box empty.
Started walking around and found a larger swarm nearby ( 100 yards ) low and easy to get. I caught them in the same box and weighed it that night. This time it was 5 lbs bees. I could be wrong but I don't think I have a hive that is missing 5 lbs bees and I am wondering if the swarm that absconded joined another 2.5 lb swarm from one of my hives that had a virgin queen.
Went through it Sat. and could not find a queen or eggs. The frame with open brood I had added was mostly capped now but I didn't see larvae in any of the queen cups.
Do you all think the first swarm may have joined the 2nd or did they just fly away?
I searched around more after catching the 2nd swarm but no luck.