Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: brit.thebee on May 01, 2013, 03:02:27 pm

Title: swarm/cutout...what to do??
Post by: brit.thebee on May 01, 2013, 03:02:27 pm

On Monday we got a call that there was a swarm in a tree and, about 50 feet away, a pretty established hive living in a roof/wall.  The homeowners wanted us to take the swarm out of the tree and to try and get the bees out of the wall without cutting the wall.  They said the bees have been there about 3 years.  It is very active!  We got the small swarm out of the tree and took it to our bee yard and it is still there, working away.  We started to vac the bees out of the roof but there were too many and we couldn't get into the walls far enough.  So our plan now is to seal it up and make a bee escape and try to get them to go into a hive box.
The homeowners just called and said there is another, larger swarm in the exact spot in the tree where we removed a swarm Monday.  The bees in the roof are still working and bringing in pollen and so are the bees in our beeyard.  Could these be splits from the large hive in the roof?
What would you do?  We need a plan.
Thanks!

Title: Re: swarm/cutout...what to do??
Post by: Michael Bush on May 01, 2013, 03:10:57 pm

There have been many posts on "trap outs".  I would read up on them.  I think there are probably some u-tube videos as well.

Title: Re: swarm/cutout...what to do??
Post by: hardwood on May 01, 2013, 03:18:35 pm

I have several trap out videos posted on my youtube channel youtube.com/MrBeedude and you can read all about how to do them with iddee's help.

http://forum.beemaster.com/index.php/topic,20301.0.html (http://forum.beemaster.com/index.php/topic,20301.0.html)

As for the swarms, a strong colony may cast a primary swarm followed by several after swarms or "virgin" swarms. I took four mout of the same tree earlier this year.

Scott

Title: Re: swarm/cutout...what to do??
Post by: Kathyp on May 01, 2013, 03:27:55 pm

be sure to read the part where if you leave the comb and all it contains in the wall, you end up with a buggy, melted, mess.  getting the bees out is rarely the problem.  getting the hive out is the thing.

Title: Re: swarm/cutout...what to do??
Post by: brit.thebee on May 01, 2013, 04:58:02 pm

The new swarm was taking off from the tree just as we were showing up to get it! 
Thanks for the responses regarding the trap-out.  I'll let ya know...