Hello all,
The biggest hurtle I have run into with trying to keep bees is well, getting the bees! My Island is 180 miles from Miami and I can’t jump into the car and take a ride to pick up bees. My question really is how long bees can survive transport. I have 2 choices, either fly over to Florida, hopefully find some one near Miami or Fort Lauderdale who sells bees either as package bees or nucs, jump on a charter plane from the executive airport in Fort Laud and bring the bee’s home. 2nd choice is to order them if anyone will ship them internationally (fed-ex??) and have them delivered. Shipping by boat would take way too long and I would be afraid of the bees overheating during shipment in a shipping container.
I don’t think I have ever seen a swarm here, found a hive in an old tire when just a kid, but never saw a swarm hanging in a tree. Is there is certain time of the year that they swarm in these warm climates?
My best chance is on another island about 40 miles away, there is someone who sells honey to shops here, but I don’t know if they sell bees or how enthusiastic they would be to sell them given that they are a commercial honey producer.
Sorry if this was a bit of a rant, just have allot of questions and very little resources over here.
thanks
Adam R.