bees swarmed, caught swarm, they died

[bbadger07]

i know it sounds harsh but its true, they had just been treat with varroa strips over 48hrs and fed as well, i caught the swarm nearby and got them into a brood box, when i later went to sort em out they were nearly all dead, i managed to find the queen before loosing her, she look like she was on her last legs as well. Please dont be cynical but i just tipped the bees out and threw them into the beck. I very much doubt they queen survived. The original colony box had loads of bees left, with brood and food and stores a plenty, I found at least 14ish queen cells, which i destroyed all but left 2 decent ones left, again all the losses today have been heavy but my colonies are really strong, i started with 2 hives last year, I now have 4 after doing AI and have also had to 2 swarms, one of which is now off site and the other one today which i lost.

Im guessing that even after all the swarm management i carried out my bees have stuck two fingers up at me and swarmed anyway as they dont read the books, go on courses and to association meetings like i do...

 

[BBG]

"Im guessing that even after all the swarm management i carried out my bees have stuck two fingers up at me and swarmed anyway as they dont read the books, go on courses and to association meetings like i do..."

I'll bet they had the same num nuts 'teacher' and 'mentor' with whom I was landed.

 

[bbadger07]

no my mentor is very good and supportive

 

[richardbees]

Badger,

So many factors could have played a part in this, my first thoughts are it may have been inappropriate to force Varroa treatment on them at this time, and also that we're in the middle of a heatwave so maybe you got the ventilation wrong.

Tipping them in the beck (presumably where salmon and trout live?) is totally commendable

"....now have 4 after doing AI..." nimble fingers or did you mean AS?

richard

 

[bbadger07]

oops artificial swarm AS i meant to say..

 

[Mike a]

Sounds a bit strange they chose to swarm then died.
I have a few questions if you don't mind.

Hives - Do they have a mesh floor or solid floors and what size entrances?
Were they enclosed for a long period after you caught them?
When you put the swarm in a hive did you continue to treat them with your varroa strips or any thing in the syrup?

 

[bbadger07]

the hive had strips in with a mesh floor and a solid floor underneath which had an insert in to monitor the drop, the strips were new, whilst i was treating with strips i had already 2 days previously had jumbo feeders on, they had taken alot of syrup down to the brood box. The swarm was placed in a brood box with drawn foundation which had stores on. This was at peak heat time today, i placed a crown board on top and left a small space for slight ventilation. The parent colony was very wild and aggressive, i just think these bees have got overly aggressive in the brood box and exerted themselves ..

 

[bbadger07]

i also didnt treat the swarm with strips, they were in the brood box for about 4 hours...

 

[richardbees]

good clear replies. badge, so it's not the chemicals - as they were in drawn foundation already partially occupied with stores, I'd put it down to over-heating.

 

[Hebeegeebee]

I assume from reading your post you kept them shut up in a hive with no means of exit in the sun? Which means that you stuck two fingers at your bees and killed them?

 

[bbadger07]

A bit of a harsh reply with no consideration, im sorry to say

 

[bbadger07]

thanks for your reply, much appreciated, its going down to heat exhaustion in this case methinks, im very disappointed with myself today

 

[Vergilius]

Sorry,

Am I correct in thinking that you actually shut your bees in the hive??? If so, why???

Ben P

 

[Flatters]

HI Badger.

Commiserations. I was given a swarm in earky May and it died. I thought when I got it there was no queen by their behaviour and I was right. It was very small and they all just gave up.

I have collected two swarms since and i am of view not to do any treatments or monitoring for a couple of weeks. I prefer to let them settle in, then do some monitoring.

 

[bbadger07]

i didnt think ventilation was a major issue but i was wrong i guess

 

[bbadger07]

thanks for your kind reply

 

[Silly Bee]

HI Badger.

Commiserations. I was given a swarm in earky May and it died. I thought when I got it there was no queen by their behaviour and I was right. It was very small and they all just gave up.

I have collected two swarms since and i am of view not to do any treatments or monitoring for a couple of weeks. I prefer to let them settle in, then do some monitoring.

I don't think they ever, "Give up"

 

[richardbees]

hebee, steady on!

he didn't block the entrance - I'm assuming he left a small space in the feed hole on the crown board (cover board )

 

[Vergilius]

hebee, steady on!

he didn't block the entrance - I'm assuming he left a small space in the feed hole on the crown board (cover board )

Ah...

Ben P

 

[Flatters]

Silly Bee
I promise you these bees did. They had been collected by the person who used a homemade vacuum device. When I collected them he told me they keep leaving the hive and going back to the bush (where I think he left the queen). They day after I brought them home (and they were very light so I think very few of them). The next day they came out of teh nuc and stayed in clumps getting rained on. To me that is giving up.