bees swarmed, caught swarm, they died

[Silly Bee]

I don't call that "giving up" sorry

 

[Flatters]

What do you call it?

 

[RoseCottage]

It seems you have been very unlucky. Sorry for the bees and you - it doesn't feel very nice right now but I bet you are not alone.

Look on the bright side you have possibly learnt valuable lessons...

Disasters happen all the time to us - I virtually lost a colony this Winter and a swarm last week but it is by these events we get the chance to learn and refine our knowledge.

All the best,
Sam

 

[kighill]

I fully sympathise with you. Last year I collected a swarm in a straw skep, by the time I got home it was dark. (Very late swarm caught at the end of August/early September)

Due to the time, instead of hiving them I placed them into a National hive but left them in the skep until morning. The skep was covered with a tea towel fastened tightly to the sides. Although I got up early it was to late the bees had perished through heat exhaustion.

Bees can and do become stressed during the swarming process/capture and transportation.

We often learn at the loss/cost of our bees. I am not the first and you are certainly not the last to lose bees.

 

[Silly Bee]

What do you call it?

Whoever collected them left the queen behind according to the post. That happens, and it unfortunate.

The post then goes on to say they were out in the rain, which is also unfortunate.

It seems the conclusion is they committed mass suicide, which I doubt.

 

[Flatters]

Hi SB
I am not sure what your point is, I never mentioned suicide. They all came out of the nuc and settle on the grass in ten or so clumps and stayed there even when it started raining. They made no attempt to go back into the nuc nor did they fly and settle on a tree to shelter. They just stayed in their clumps got rained on and died. How should I have described that if “giving up” is not suitable?

 

[Hebeegeebee]

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

When bees are confined they get themselves worked up and generate more heat whence they get more stressed... Usually a colony is amazingly good at temperature regulation. When confined it all goes wrong.

Stress in transit is also another problem - I don't move my bees far - but the books say pour a cup of water into the hive to keep them cool.


A lesson for others - so it's good that you shared it.


I'm sorry you lost your bees.


And you left 2 queencells? My advice is to leave one...