Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => HONEYBEE REMOVAL => Topic started by: JP on September 08, 2012, 11:25:39 pm

Title: Huge Swarm Removed On Labor Day With Emil
Post by: JP on September 08, 2012, 11:25:39 pm
This was a really nice sized swarm on a guy's shed. They most likely came from a water oak that was within 10' of the shed. It was a lot of fun!


...JP

Gentilly Swarm Removed With Emil On Labor Day (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YznnihaER24#ws)
Title: Re: Huge Swarm Removed On Labor Day With Emil
Post by: BabcockFarms on September 08, 2012, 11:52:50 pm
Another great video, I hope to have the opportunity to capture a swarm someday. Swarms are not as common here. I have only seen one.
Title: Re: Huge Swarm Removed On Labor Day With Emil
Post by: JP on September 08, 2012, 11:55:43 pm
I hope you have the opportunity to catch many swarms! They are a lot of fun to deal with.


...JP
Title: Re: Huge Swarm Removed On Labor Day With Emil
Post by: BabcockFarms on September 09, 2012, 12:10:04 am
It looks like a blast. Every one of your videos get me stoked for the day when I get the opportunity.
Title: Re: Huge Swarm Removed On Labor Day With Emil
Post by: ryebone on September 09, 2012, 12:10:25 am
Hey there JP! Another great video. Sure is late in the year for a swarm..But I am in East TN. DO you guys have to feed a swarm alot this time of the year?
   Thanks for all your great videos!
   Rye
Title: Re: Huge Swarm Removed On Labor Day With Emil
Post by: JP on September 09, 2012, 02:20:00 am
Rye, we have two flows coming. Golden Rain trees and Goldenrod. I always offer feed to swarms.


...JP
Title: Re: Huge Swarm Removed On Labor Day With Emil
Post by: DLMKA on September 10, 2012, 05:01:41 pm
JP, do you ever bring a scale to weigh boxes before and after to get the weight of the bees?  I started doing it after I caught a few swarms this year.  Most were in the 2-3 lb range but the last one (June 30) was just shy of 9 lbs.  I think half of them left after being crowded into the last two mediums I had left at the time.
Title: Re: Huge Swarm Removed On Labor Day With Emil
Post by: AllenF on September 10, 2012, 09:16:41 pm
Big swarm with a little queen.   Do you think the storm had something had to do with that large swarm?    Good find on the queen.   I loved the music in the video and the education at end.   Great video.
Title: Re: Huge Swarm Removed On Labor Day With Emil
Post by: Sundog on September 10, 2012, 11:50:18 pm
"May you never hear surf music again!"
Title: Re: Huge Swarm Removed On Labor Day With Emil
Post by: annette on September 11, 2012, 12:52:13 am
This was a beautiful swarm and I will pass this video onto my beekeeping friends. I just loved the music JP. Have a thing for Jimi Hendrix.

Thanks for sharing.

Annette
Title: Re: Huge Swarm Removed On Labor Day With Emil
Post by: Lazy W on September 11, 2012, 01:06:39 am
I enjoyed Your video. Loved the music. Thanks for taking the time to post it.
Title: Re: Huge Swarm Removed On Labor Day With Emil
Post by: JP on September 11, 2012, 03:48:03 am
DLMKA, never weighed a swarm on site but that is something interesting to consider. May have to throw a scale in my trailer!  ;)

Allen, the tree to the left of the shed still had a good bit of activity so I'm thinking this was just a big swarm it threw off. I did get quite a few swarm calls that were likely absconds from Isaac but our bees have also been throwing off congestive swarms as of late.

Annette & Lazy W, I have always been a huge Hendrix fan. The man could lay down some great tunes.

You got it right Sundog.  ;)


...JP
Title: Re: Huge Swarm Removed On Labor Day With Emil
Post by: DLMKA on September 12, 2012, 12:58:56 pm
DLMKA, never weighed a swarm on site but that is something interesting to consider. May have to throw a scale in my trailer!  ;)


I started beekeeping this year and had the good fortune of collecting 7 swarms this year.  After the first 2 I started weighing boxes on the bathroom scale before leaving the house and then after the capture if time allowed.  I kind of kept track of swarm sizes and am hoping to relate that to overall colony size and productivity once they get built up. 
Title: Re: Huge Swarm Removed On Labor Day With Emil
Post by: Kathyp on September 12, 2012, 01:09:06 pm
was thinking about you and wondering if you were getting many storm related swarm calls.  ended up running a truck with a fellow beekeeper when I was in LA.  so sorry that i missed all you guys, but it was non stop running around from the time i hit the ground.
Title: Re: Huge Swarm Removed On Labor Day With Emil
Post by: Lazy W on September 13, 2012, 12:15:01 am
DLMKA: That sounds like a great way to start a data sheet. Good idea.
Title: Re: Huge Swarm Removed On Labor Day With Emil
Post by: D Coates on September 14, 2012, 05:22:46 pm
That thing was about twice the size of the biggest swarm I've ever gotten.  Thanks for posting!