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Author Topic: Swarm in the Gutters  (Read 4220 times)

Offline MrILoveTheAnts

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Swarm in the Gutters
« on: May 06, 2008, 06:59:59 pm »
I woke up to this yesterday.

Video
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v735/mrilovetheants/Bees%202008/?action=view&current=BeesTakingOff.flv
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v735/mrilovetheants/Bees%202008/?action=view&current=BeesLanding.flv

Pictures
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v735/mrilovetheants/Bees%202008/Swarm2008.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v735/mrilovetheants/Bees%202008/Swarm2008house.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v735/mrilovetheants/Bees%202008/Swarm2008gutters.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v735/mrilovetheants/Bees%202008/Swarm2008landing.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v735/mrilovetheants/Bees%202008/Swarm2008bearded.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v735/mrilovetheants/Bees%202008/Swarm2008bearded2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v735/mrilovetheants/Bees%202008/Swarm2008bearded4.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v735/mrilovetheants/Bees%202008/Swarm2008bearded3.jpg

So here's how it went down. This was at my neighbor's house. For the first hour or so I sprayed them down with sugar water and brushed them from under the siding into a cardboard box I was using. In the mean time I placed a stick in the gutters hoping they'd get on that. The sugar kept the bees in the box mostly but it was clear the queen was still in the gutters. The gutters themselves were bolted so I couldn't go that rout. Scooping them out wasn't passable either as the gutter tube was too thin. My last option was using the garden hose and flushing them out. I didn't like doing it but it worked out fine. I gave the, .... gushing ball of soggy bees, time to dry off and eventually located the queen. I eventually inserted them into a Deep and they're still there now. Probably more pictures later on.
« Last Edit: May 06, 2008, 08:38:43 pm by MrILoveTheAnts »

Offline annette

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Re: Swarm in the Gutters
« Reply #1 on: May 06, 2008, 11:33:17 pm »
What a surprise you got this morning. Do you only have 1 hive??

Offline HAB

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Re: Swarm in the Gutters
« Reply #2 on: May 06, 2008, 11:48:10 pm »
Nice job. :)

Offline MrILoveTheAnts

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Re: Swarm in the Gutters
« Reply #3 on: May 06, 2008, 11:58:38 pm »
Currently I am up to 4, with two others yet to swarm.

Offline JP

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Re: Swarm in the Gutters
« Reply #4 on: May 07, 2008, 12:31:46 am »
You said this was a neighbor's house, right next door?

Did you think to put a hive body with a brood frame on the roof next to the swarm? If not try it next time. I'm assuming it wasn't possible at the time?

I'm glad things worked out for you. Nice video and pics.


...JP
My Youtube page is titled JPthebeeman with hundreds of educational & entertaining videos.

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Offline MrILoveTheAnts

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Re: Swarm in the Gutters
« Reply #5 on: May 07, 2008, 12:37:55 pm »
No at the time I didn't have anything to put them in. So I collected them in a regular box and drove to Harvey's Honey, a local place on rough 40 in Monroeville, and bought a bunch what I need for the year.

Offline KONASDAD

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Re: Swarm in the Gutters
« Reply #6 on: May 08, 2008, 12:01:36 am »
I've had five hanging swarms and two cutouts in your neighborhood this week. My phone doesn't stop ringing for hanging swarms. Four this AM. Out of equipment and tired. Your vacinity is jumping this week. A few more in Audobon and Magnolia as well
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Offline MrILoveTheAnts

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Re: Swarm in the Gutters
« Reply #7 on: May 08, 2008, 12:26:22 am »
Well I admit I lost two swarms last week and haven't had a very clean record in past years either. I like to think a few swarms formally owned by me are still out there. All of the fragmented forest land (and vacant housing form the economy) is making ideal spots for them to nest. I trust a few of the new beekeepers from this years beeginners course have misplaced a few hive packages as well.

Offline KONASDAD

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Re: Swarm in the Gutters
« Reply #8 on: May 08, 2008, 11:21:40 am »
Well I admit I lost two swarms last week and haven't had a very clean record in past years either. I like to think a few swarms formally owned by me are still out there. All of the fragmented forest land (and vacant housing form the economy) is making ideal spots for them to nest. I trust a few of the new beekeepers from this years beeginners course have misplaced a few hive packages as well.
So far, i am of opinion they are feral. The queens are half the size of my Minn hygenics, workers are almost black and small. Those that arent black, have almost no bands, but a black rear-end as well.I have become aware of  two old feral hives w/in a block of audobon fire hall, and three on the land that will become Magnolia Commons too.
"The more complex the Mind, the Greater the need for the simplicity of Play".