My neighbor, who knows I keep bees, and is WAY on board (due to the bumper crops of fruits and veggies) called me today to find out it I had removed comb from any of my hives. I went over right away, concerned, to find 4 nice pieces of comb FULL of dying brood!! I was SICK. I checked my hives, all of which were undisturbed, so I looked for a solution upward. Low and behold, a good sized swarm about 40 feet high in her avocado tree...obviously, they had built an open nest, and lost to the near 50 mph gusts we have been tollerating for a couple days due to Sandy. (B!tch Sandy!) I took the brood comb, and coated with honey (more as a lure as opposed to thinking the brood was salvagable), placed in a hive box with a couple frames with foundation, and threw some fresh lemongrass pieces I cut from the garden in there. We can see the leftover swarm, and will try to retrieve tomorrow if this weather lets up some!!! I left the hive/box partially uncovered with the crashed brood in frames (2 frames worth) on the ground, in sight, and up-wind, with the lemongrass bait. Anybody think there is ANY chance this swarm will find the box??? I knew the brood was essenially done...but felt wrong to do NOthing...There were 3 worker bees in the new box when dark was falling....hoping for better results at day break!
We'll see what tomorrow brings. Thanks for ANY insight in the meantime!!! ANY chance of this working? If the weather breaks a bit, we will go up the tree to salvage the swarm, because the OBviouly have a great queen! (I am guessing this is the swarm I was not able to retrieve the day I had 3 swarms!)
Advice? ANY hope? Climb the 40 feet??? Help!! Please, and Thank you.
Topic: darn Hurricane Sandy! Help to save an open hive, now homeless swarm.... (Read 1576 times)