3 swarms - same tree

[abm]

Been grateful of the first swarm in a tree at a friends house, then 2 weeks later, swarm number two.. same branch but much smaller.

1st swarm filled a brood box, second filled a nuk.

friend called today saying yet another swarm same as the last is on the same branch...

any suggestions..?

 

[enrico]

All probably from same hive, my hives have their favourite places which they use even in different years.
Better than a bait box I say!
E

 

[itma]

Been grateful of the first swarm in a tree at a friends house, then 2 weeks later, swarm number two.. same branch but much smaller.

1st swarm filled a brood box, second filled a nuk.

friend called today saying yet another swarm same as the last is on the same branch...

any suggestions..?

Not sure what it is that you are asking for suggestions on.
The choice of clustering point, the size and frequency of the swarms, or how to stop your hive swarming?

 

[abm]

Not sure what it is that you are asking for suggestions on.
The choice of clustering point, the size and frequency of the swarms, or how to stop your hive swarming?

sorry... suggestions on why this is, i will collect this cast later today.

thanks Enrico

 

[Bosleeu]

Not sure if this helps - the spot has been marked with pheromones, so swarms will tend to cluster there, sometimes for many years to come. My neighbours hedge had a swarm in the same place for a few years running, and it always seemed to be over Easter.

 

[abm]

Hmmmm best i make up a platform to work from....

thanks all..

 

[Ely]

My guess is the first swarm was a prime and the 2nd two were casts all from the same hive. Does your friend know a beekeeper nearby? They are probably from there. If so, the original beekeeper should be notified so he/she can collect them. If not, free bees for you. Hope you have lots of equipment. Combine the swarms and they should be ok to build up for winter.

 

[alldigging]

Collect and put a bait box there? (And next year)

 

[itma]

Not sure if this helps - the spot has been marked with pheromones, so swarms will tend to cluster there, sometimes for many years to come. My neighbours hedge had a swarm in the same place for a few years running, and it always seemed to be over Easter.

It may also be to do with the skyline and that spot being the 'natural' choice for where Q would touch down.
Regarding pheromones, many beekeepers have a 'swarm post' in their apiary where they expect swarms to cluster, and to help them, excess (or DLQ or nasty or whatever) Qs are always dispatched by squashing them on that post. I've met people that swear by the method (mind you, I've also met people that claim to like all sorts of odd ideas!)

My guess is the first swarm was a prime and the 2nd two were casts all from the same hive. Does your friend know a beekeeper nearby? They are probably from there. If so, the original beekeeper should be notified so he/she can collect them. If not, free bees for you. Hope you have lots of equipment. Combine the swarms and they should be ok to build up for winter.

Yes. But, surprisingly small colonies can be overwintered with lots of TLC (and insulation).

Collect and put a bait box there? (And next year)

Sounds like a good location.
Box needs to be about the size of a single-brood National, smallish South-facing entrance near the bottom of the box, and … about 10 feet up in the air (garage or shed roofs come in handy here!) Add a bit of ratty old comb and a few drops of swarm lure or lemongrass (cymbopogon citratus not citronella) oil (which you can find in Holland & Barratt) and be patient. Very patient!

 

[Bosleeu]

It may also be to do with the skyline and that spot being the 'natural' choice for where Q would touch down.
Regarding pheromones, many beekeepers have a 'swarm post' in their apiary where they expect swarms to cluster, and to help them, excess (or DLQ or nasty or whatever) Qs are always dispatched by squashing them on that post. I've met people that swear by the method (mind you, I've also met people that claim to like all sorts of odd ideas!)

Yes. But, surprisingly small colonies can be overwintered with lots of TLC (and insulation).

Sounds like a good location.
Box needs to be about the size of a single-brood National, smallish South-facing entrance near the bottom of the box, and … about 10 feet up in the air (garage or shed roofs come in handy here!) Add a bit of ratty old comb and a few drops of swarm lure or lemongrass (cymbopogon citratus not citronella) oil (which you can find in Holland & Barratt) and be patient. Very patient!

That is very interesting. Will give the squashing a try and see if it works. Don't like killing queens but maybe queencells will do as well. There is of course the ley line theory as well. Guess we will not totally understand this for a long time.

Once read a really brilliant article about the decision-making process in a swarm, explaining how the scouts come back to the cluster and "tell" the others about prospective new homes and the mechanism by which they all then decide to fly off and move in to the best one. Think it was in the BBKA Journal a year or so ago.

 

[pargyle]

Been grateful of the first swarm in a tree at a friends house, then 2 weeks later, swarm number two.. same branch but much smaller.

1st swarm filled a brood box, second filled a nuk.

friend called today saying yet another swarm same as the last is on the same branch...

any suggestions..?

It's a bee tree ... For those of us with a more bohemian outlook on the world there is plenty of anecdotal evidence that swarms gravitate to the same places ... Knowing that drone congregation areas are historically found in the same places for (in some cases hundreds of years) the bees must have highly develop locatory senses ... So - it's only a small leap of fsith to take the view that the earths magnetic lines could be the locator for these swarm locations ... It's not always trees ... It appears to be the location that is important ... A friend of mine had a swarm in a rose bush in his garden every year for three years ... It had to be removed as it was in the way if some decking he wanted ... Bees arrived again this year and swarmed on the pole on his garden umbrella. ... Sceptics will cry coincidence ... Me ... I'd get the divining rods out . Tin hat on ... Incoming incoming !!

 

[Erichalfbee]

Regarding pheromones, many beekeepers have a 'swarm post' in their apiary where they expect swarms to cluster, and to help them, excess (or DLQ or nasty or whatever) Qs are always dispatched by squashing them on that post. I've met people that swear by the method

I've hung a used queen introduction cage in a convenient tree. Maybe that might do the trick.
Mind you.....I don't want any more bees ....please!

 

[user 6228]

It's a bee tree ... For those of us with a more bohemian outlook on the world there is plenty of anecdotal evidence that swarms gravitate to the same places ... Knowing that drone congregation areas are historically found in the same places for (in some cases hundreds of years) the bees must have highly develop locatory senses ... So - it's only a small leap of fsith to take the view that the earths magnetic lines could be the locator for these swarm locations ... It's not always trees ... It appears to be the location that is important ... A friend of mine had a swarm in a rose bush in his garden every year for three years ... It had to be removed as it was in the way if some decking he wanted ... Bees arrived again this year and swarmed on the pole on his garden umbrella. ... Sceptics will cry coincidence ... Me ... I'd get the divining rods out . Tin hat on ... Incoming incoming !!

tree hugging hippy radar on, target detected ... launch scientific argument , anti crystals wet blanket mortars!!!


There is no need to invoke the powers of crystals, ley lines, ground energy etc... prevailing wind, boundary edge, and obstacles swhich force them to gain height may be more influence in bringing them to the same spot swarm after swarm.

 

[pargyle]

Yes ... but in the middle of a largely flat, fairly extensive housing estate with no discernible ground features or large trees ... your lack of faith in the earth's magnetic crust falls apart .. and that's where it was !

I'm not big on crystals but .. there are lines of magnetic force on the earth's surface and I've seen the effects of acupuncture on my dog ... there's a bit more to it than we know - just waiting for the scientists to catch up Derek ... I'm pretty certain Bill Bielby was called a heretic back in the 60's when he started keeping bees in warm, draught free hive ... but you got there via the science route !

 

[BeeJayBee]

... I'm pretty certain Bill Bielby was called a heretic back in the 60's when he started keeping bees in warm, draught free hive ... but you got there via the science route !

I had to look him up, so forgive me if I link to an earlier thread of yours with a snippet or two of information http://www.beekeepingforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=26277

 

[Smorning]

If the location is not ideal suggest masking the pheromone by spraying the area with another scent that is not too appealing to the bees. When I have trouble with swarms recollecting on a tree trunk in a difficult location or in a position where it's hard to shake them off after the first attempt i heavily smoke the trunk after I shift the bees. They rarely go back to the same location which makes it easier hopefully to capture the swarm.

 

[flytrapman]

I have some spare equipment outside at home and have had 6 swarms within a metre this year.. 2 swarms this week have arrived and I keep a few brood boxes with old frames in case of any more
I have no Bees at home but there is a large less than half a mile away

 

[itma]

…
Once read a really brilliant article about the decision-making process in a swarm, explaining how the scouts come back to the cluster and "tell" the others about prospective new homes and the mechanism by which they all then decide to fly off and move in to the best one. Think it was in the BBKA Journal a year or so ago.

See the book "Honeybee Democracy" by Prof Tom Seeley. (A lot of libraries have it.)

 

[Bosleeu]

Thanks. It's now on my Christmas list. Will do me more good than the normal bottle of rum from my mother- in-law .