Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum
BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => HONEYBEE REMOVAL => Topic started by: capt44 on April 19, 2014, 12:25:27 am
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Just as I figured after this last cold snap we had the bees began swarming all at once.
I got 5 swarm calls yesterday and 4 today.
So far this week I got 11 swarms in the box not counting the trap outs I'm doing.
I've had to turn down countless swarms too far away.
We're running about 5-6 weeks behind what we have been the last couple of years.
In my beeyards there is scarlet and white clover (400 acres) but none is blooming yet.
I figure another week or two anyhow.
I hope we don't go straight from winter to summer.
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They are swarming steadily in North Arkansas too. Last week when we had the cold snap for a few days I met my first mean swarm. A guy called me about a swarm about 12 feet off the ground in a plum tree that had been there for a couple days.
As soon as I climbed up the step ladder they attacked. No head butting, No warning, just stinging. I got nailed 5 or 6 times getting back down the ladder and had to put on a veil,jacket and gloves to get them in the box.
I had a frame of honey and some drawn comb in the box and they started in on the honey immediately. I left them overnight and picked them up the next morning. I guess they were just hungry and that made them irritable, Since I've brought them home they've been as gentle as any hive I own.
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Good that you didn't fall of the ladder, I always suit up when my feet are off the ground.
Don