feral colony

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barry

New Bee
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Mar 27, 2010
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Location
colchester, essex
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National
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Does anyone know how long a feral colony of bees is likely to last . We know of a colony that has been living in an oak tree for at least 3 years. We have seen a lot of bees going in and out of the entrance over the last few weeks and was wondering if it would be worth putting out a bait hive in a few months. As this colony have been there for a while without any human intervention is it possible that it could be riddled with varroa or the complete opposite and maybe varroa resistant, hope this is not a stupid question bee-smillie
 
It'll have varroa but you won't know how tolerant it really is until you catch a swarm.
I picked up a swarm 2 years ago from an oak that had a resident colony for many years. The bees were very very swarmy and I reckon the multiple broodless periods gave it a degree of varroa tolerance.
 
Its worth a bait hive just the unknowns to think about, temperament and other bee diseases? other than Varroa and as for Varroa the hive may be full but the majority of the mites will be left in the swarmed colony.
 
I posted this before so sorry for repeating. I have a friend who has had a feral colony in her chimney since she moved in 18 years ago Regards Andrew (to the house that is )
 
You cannot tell the temperament of a swarm until it settles in and grows to a reasonable strength.

The one I caught on video last year turned out to be a right nasty lot, and were requeened.

PH
 
thanks for your words of advice, I think we'll put out a bait hive and see what happens, should be interesting
 
You cannot tell the temperament of a swarm until it settles in and grows to a reasonable strength.

The one I caught on video last year turned out to be a right nasty lot, and were requeened.

PH
Wonderful video.......You sounded so excited :)
I watched a swarm go into a bait box and it's a great feeling. My excitement was tempered by the fact that they were my bees but at least I got them back.
 
More out of breath to be honest after running up and down the garden. Mind you I was very chuffed to have the opportunity go actually film them arriving.

Just a shame they were so damn tinky when they got up to strength.

PH
 
I have just watched the video you posted of the swarm you caught, what an amazing video, having never encountered a swarm before I now know what to expect. It must be an incredible feeling to be standing amidst all those swirling bees.
 
Ill second that.
I saw a hive of mine swarm and they came to rest 20 feet away in the branches of a beech tree.
They poured out like liquid and I stood in the middle of them swirling around. Magic...........................
 
Ill second that.
I saw a hive of mine swarm and they came to rest 20 feet away in the branches of a beech tree.
They poured out like liquid and I stood in the middle of them swirling around. Magic...........................

Last swarm I saw was from my Dad's hive, over 30 years ago.. can't wait for the next one!
 
You are right it is magic to be in a swarm, I was doing a practical exam when the hive I was being examined on (not mine / ours) started beavhing oddly, I looked at the examiner and said "this lot are being a bit odd" whereupon they swarmed, fantastic and I will always remember those few moments of bees flying up past me me and swirling around. the examiner just said "you seem comrfortable can you put the hive back together I will go and get the hive owner" she did and the owner and my wife suited up and collected the swarm. I put the hive back together very carefully. (went on to another hive and passsed) the swarm we collected this summer are a good bunch can handle without glove, did have the dreaded V but are "better" now and are raring to go now... we saw some bees investigating a hole in the shed door so put a bait hive just in case and the bees were there waiting for us on the monday after a weekend away (bait hive put up on the Friday) try to get them and see what happens even if they need requeening you will havea head start...
good luck
 
I have just watched the video you posted of the swarm you caught, what an amazing video, having never encountered a swarm before I now know what to expect. It must be an incredible feeling to be standing amidst all those swirling bees.

It can be scary the first time :)
 
Barry,
the genetics of the colony in the tree will change over time and may become less tolerant soon and thus succumb to varroa and die.

Also, the tolerance is probably a combination of a number of traits (swarminess, isolation from other colonies, current genetic mix, where there are living, the weather recently) rather than "immune from varroa" which we'd like.

The only way to make something of it is to get a swarm from them, see if that colony has some resistance and, if so, breed from it (increase the frequency of those useful genes). Repeat this as long as the feral colony goes on and hope that the other honey bee colonies around you don't wreck your improved genetics as your resulting colonies inter-breed with local drones from colonies that can only survive with regular beekeeper interventions.

FG
 
As this colony have been there for a while without any human intervention is it possible that it could be riddled with varroa or the complete opposite and maybe varroa resistant, hope this is not a stupid question bee-smillie

Nice idea that somewhere is a solitary varroa resistant colony. It is not possible even in theory.

If the coloniy dies, soon a swarm occupye the tree hole.
 
It would be rather good to find that they had no varroa or anything else wrong with them..

That would blow a few expert opinions apart...

One of my colonies is what I think might be feral..... They started to move into an incomplete and unassembled hive,,,, They didnt swarm in.... just slowly arrived during the course of a day.... or two..... dont know...( I couldnt count them in and out)..When I saw the first bees early in the morning I quickly put the hive together and let them get on with it. It's a Warre hive, had no foundation..... and they built masses of comb within a week. Now a very strong colony...
 
I posted this before so sorry for repeating. I have a friend who has had a feral colony in her chimney since she moved in 18 years ago Regards Andrew (to the house that is )

It has been noted in the past by others that feral colonys in old disused chimneys tend to survive longer than feral colonys in old trees as to Varroa that is to say, and it is thought that the old soot and other chemicals that have gone up the chimney and coated it have a bearing on this but who really knows for sure.

I have met one chap that thinks it is down to the soot ect and developed a powder that is similar to the ones up the chimney and claims it reduces Varroa?

Personally I don’t know the chemicals in the chimney may have an affect on the Varroa but as to a colony in the chimney for 18 years perhaps she has noticed a number of colonys re occupying the chimney and although at the top of the house and disused I bet a bit of warm air makes up the chimney and this also helps a weakened colony survive a winter.
 
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I found a "feral" colony in the old dairy mill wall. I calculated that they lived there 6 years.

I mated several queens near that "survivor". But the colonies what I got from that were awfull. Mere rubbish!

Guys, you get swarms every year. They may be the same kind of survivors as that in the tree hole. How many mite restistat swarms you have got?

The reason is that the bees on certain area has more or less same genepool.

Even if you bye a mite resistant queen , it does not remain long as good.

First generation has original genes 50%, then 25%, then 12% ....

Yes, those b*.*d experienced beeks, PAH!

It is good to live in Hope, said the Tapeworm.
 

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