Humane Termination of Colony - How?

[Spikedog]

This is our first season. How do you go about humanely terminating doomed colony (Old colony, Q- and without brood other than drone for many weeks) which is now robbing out strong nuc? Weaker Nuc’s about also. Not a nice outcome but we certainly gave them a chance without success. Advice as to methods appreciated.

 

[Silly Bee]

Are they all drones?

 

[Snail368]

I had this last year and simply did a shake out of all the bees, they had to join the nucleus / other hive so strengthened that one and weren't wasted.

 

[CeeJay]

Unfortunately, I've had to do this....(assuming they are all drones)
Soapy water. Spray them down and leave the frames out in the rain and sun for a few weeks. The frames will be fine for reuse.

 

[Spikedog]

Hi SB – Not by any means but broodless (save drone brood in super) other than residue of test frame since early June – Not a scrap in Brood Box – but large enough colony of mild mannered bees save as to their taking up robbing. It was desire to let phase out but critical that they don’t undermine other weaker colonies.

 

[user 6228]

inert welding gas... odourless they wont know its happening.

 

[Spikedog]

Hi Snail. We originally took new Nuc to do this but were advised on forum that strong liklihood that they would kill Nuc Queen and leave us with double trouble. As we took out the patches of Drone brood on weekly basis the percentage od drone is not high. Do you just spray with washing up liquid?

 

[Joseph]

If you must, use diethyl ether aka Starter Fluid from Halfords and the likes, which will put them to sleep

 

[Joseph]

Hi Snail. We originally took new Nuc to do this but were advised on forum that strong liklihood that they would kill Nuc Queen and leave us with double trouble. As we took out the patches of Drone brood on weekly basis the percentage od drone is not high. Do you just spray with washing up liquid?

Why don't you qive them a frame with eggs from the nuc so that they can raise a queen?

 

[Spikedog]

Joseph - We did for three weeks in succession. Week three finaly got some Q cells but looks like to no avail - still only drone brood in super (perhaps an original trapped virgin). Big concern has moved from their survival to four weaker colony/Nucs survival - one under attack last 24 hours.

 

[TOBY-3652]

throw them out in front of other hives

 

[thepliedes]

I had this problem. Shook them out in front of another hive and like nature take its course.

 

[Spadaman]

I had this problem. Shook them out in front of another hive and like nature take its course.

I was told to shake them out as far away from the other hives as possible. That way the drone layers don't go back to the hive but the foragers do. David Cramp's book says 200 yds but I cannot do this far so they get about 75 yds.

Done three times this year

 

[Spikedog]

Spademan - Was it succesful each time? Some have told us they may kill queen in receiving hive.

 

[Bryanthebee]

I have shaken them out about 15ft away and the layers did not return, and united with a weeker hive and all was fine after that. they say that the laying workers cannot fly back or they are just not accepted at the new hive. who nows the truth. but it worked for me. good luck with what ever you choose to do.

 

[m100]

I was told to shake them out as far away from the other hives as possible. That way the drone layers don't go back to the hive but the foragers do. David Cramp's book says 200 yds but I cannot do this far so they get about 75 yds.

Done three times this year

Cramps book is IMHO wrong, all you are doing is wasting workers that could be doing useful work in a productive hive.

'facts'

Drone laying queens will fly if they have wings
Laying workers also fly and will find their way back to the parent hive
A proportion of laying worker exist in all queenright hives
Worker laid eggs are removed by other workers in a queenright hive

Pick a sunny day, preferably with a nectar flow, June 2010 was the last one Ensure you have one queenright hive nearby

Remove the hive from the original location. Take out and lay all the brood frames from the drone layer within a few metres of the queenright hive. Leave them in direct sun, in an hour or so the bees will abandon the frames and move into nearby hives. The laying workers will be effectively policed in the queenright hive.

Put the brood frames on top of the supers, let them emerge and let the workers clean out the cells. Regularly release the drones trapped above the queen excluder.

 

[psafloyd]

I was told to shake them out as far away from the other hives as possible. That way the drone layers don't go back to the hive but the foragers do. David Cramp's book says 200 yds but I cannot do this far so they get about 75 yds.

Done three times this year

I did it earlier this year about 10 yards away. Ted Hooper says throw them in a hedge. It's just about disorientating them, I think.

 

[MartinL]

Why not seal them in at night, move them <2 miles, >300yds and open the entrance again?

If you do have a new Queen she may soon start laying, with the chance of surviving.
Any flying bees should return to the apiary and find refuge in the remaining hives.

Got to be worth a try?

 

[Summerslease]

I did it earlier this year about 10 yards away. Ted Hooper says throw them in a hedge. It's just about disorientating them, I think.