orphaned bees; should I adopt?

[phill]

A neighbor who runs an orchard learned that I kept bees, and had lots of questions for me. Here's one:

Every year a commercial beekeeper brings in a whole lot of hives to pollinate this fellow's trees. Then one day the guy comes and removes the hives, leaving thousands of foraging bees behind to die. My neighbor asked if I'd want to come pick up those bees.

Here's the snag: The commercial beek breeds Italians with Africanized bees to make them more efficient pollinators. I don't want aggressive bees.

If I put them in a hive with a docile queen, will things work out in a few weeks? Or should I pass on this opportunity?

[JP]

This bee keeper is extremely irresponsible! His hives need to be removed before daylight or after dark, period! That point needs to be made ASAP! If they are swarms left behind, you could house them and either re-queen immediately or give them a few inspections to show their true colors then act appropriately.


...JP

[Kathyp]

picking up foragers is a little difficult.  it's not like getting swarms.  you could try putting a couple of hives in the same place the pollinator had his, but it's probably not worth the bother.  then you would have to merge then into your hives...and for what?  they are at the tail end of their lives anyway.

as for the breed, it makes no difference.  as long as you are not breeding queens in that area, what he has in his hive wouldn't matter.   even if those workers were to join your hives, there wouldn't be enough of them to change the temperament of the hive.

[Kathyp]

JP, these guys work when they can.  we have tons of them here.  they might have 10 fields that they are picking up or dropping off.  they aren't going to wait for dawn or dusk to move hives or they'd never get done.  ideally they would do as you suggest....but....

[Jim134]

This bee keeper is extremely irresponsible! His hives need to be removed before daylight or after dark, period! That point needs to be made ASAP! If they are swarms left behind, you could house them and either re-queen immediately or give them a few inspections to show their true colors then act appropriately.


...JP

 If you are a pollinator and have 500 hives or more in 10 orchard or so and thay WILL be spraying in 24 or 48 Hr. you do not have the time ......................

Just my $0.02
   BEE HAPPY Jim 134 :)

[mikecva]

I saw a video once of a beek 'calling' bees home by beating on an object (metal poll or box - I can not remember). After about 1/2 hour (I think :rant:) there were about 4# of bees on a fence post. If I were going to try doing a retreavel of orphaned bees, I would try putting a hive of drawn frames about 2 feet off the ground with the opening facing SE and the top cover pulled back about 3 inches.  With a small hammer tap on the box for about 5 min. then leave it until night time.  If you get any bees, close it all up and move it at night to whereever you want it.  You will have to re-queen it immediately, or possibly try to combine it with an established hive.


Remember tough... a 3# package contains about 10,000 bees.  -Mike

[JP]

"Leaving thousands of bees behind".

24 hours in a day, some of that time its dark. That's when I would move the hives. Just my .02.


...JP

[hardwood]

If I have to move my bees under less than ideal conditions I leave a pallet of hives behind to collect as many foragers back as possible and move them later. Of course I only place bees within a 60 mi radius or so too...not clear across the country!

Scott

[Jim134]

Alot of  pollinator that stop in MA. run the east cost FL. to ME.


   BEE HAPPY Jim 134 :)

[buzzbee]

I saw a video once of a beek 'calling' bees home by beating on an object (metal poll or box - I can not remember). After about 1/2 hour (I think :rant:) there were about 4# of bees on a fence post. If I were going to try doing a retreavel of orphaned bees, I would try putting a hive of drawn frames about 2 feet off the ground with the opening facing SE and the top cover pulled back about 3 inches.  With a small hammer tap on the box for about 5 min. then leave it until night time.  If you get any bees, close it all up and move it at night to whereever you want it.  You will have to re-queen it immediately, or possibly try to combine it with an established hive.


Remember tough... a 3# package contains about 10,000 bees.  -Mike

That is called "tanging" a swarm. I don't know if it works on foragers alone.

[AllenF]

You could get the foragers, and I would not worry that he raises his bees in Florida or some other AHB area with aggressive bees.  You are just going to use them for a couple of weeks before they die off.

[jredburn]

If you have a weak hive or two you could set them out.  A foraging bee will generally be accepted in a new hive it they are loaded with honey or pollen.
Their temperament will not change because it is bred into them.  They will die off from old age and the hive will return to it's normal disposition.  They do not participate in the breeding of a new queen so they will not effect the next generation.
If they have some AHB blood in them they will probably be better foragers, have more disease resistance and should not be a bother to handle because they will be out foraging instead of being guard bees.  You may have to wear a veil and use a smoker for awhile.
Regards
Joe

[asprince]

If I have to move my bees under less than ideal conditions I leave a pallet of hives behind to collect as many foragers back as possible and move them later. Of course I only place bees within a 60 mi radius or so too...not clear across the country!

Scott

This is what I do as well. It works.

Steve