How not to capture a swarm!!!!

[Bcrazy]

Hi members,
Had a call from the police this afternoon 090710 and was asked to collect a swarm from a tree that they considered a danger to the public. So of I go with my skep etc. and sure enough there is a swarm in a cherry tree.No real problems as it was a nice big prime swarm. Dumped them into the skep and dully turned the skep upside down on the board with a sheet underneath.in they went and in about 20 mins. later they all came swarming out, the skep emptied in 30 seconds flat. off they went into the next door s pagoda, so i pop next door and carry out the same procedure. All the time i have four police officers standing around waiting till I finish. Right all in the skep this time great. Again in 39 seconds they all flew out from the skep yes you have guessed it in to the next door neighbours garden and this time on to an apple tree. So I plods round there and start over again. this time it was a success they stayed in the skep and allowed me to collect them once all the flying had finished for the day. If at first you don't succeed then try and try again.


Mo

 

[Heather]

Well done - so embarrassing when being watched -when they leg it.
I grabbed a nice swarm yesterday too- not quite so big but too much for a Nuc box-apparently!.
When back home, I was walking them in as I don't like dumping them in from above- such congestion- but they also decided that they would reswarm. Fortunately, in my garden, into my oak tree- so collectable. They preferred the brood box (and the frame of brood I used to anchor them) .
Who said the swarming season was getting quieter

And do you work nights??? -4am?

 

[Haughton Honey]

Yep. Bagged one yesterday in the middle of a local town which was hanging 5 feet up in a tree outside someone's front door.

The lady had left the house to go shopping and walked in to a 'storm of bees' as they were settling where they did!

Covers about 5 National frames, so not very large, but worth it as it was only three miles away. A very dark strain too.

The phone seems to have started ringing again............

 

[Bcrazy]

And do you work nights??? -4am?

No Heather I do not work nights, I suffer with chronic pain in the small of my back and I use morphine to help the pain but there are times when I just can not sleep.

Mo