Swarm from Hell

[theeggman]

We've just hived a prime swarm from hell.
Our own colonies have been AS'd and are not large enough to through a swarm of this size.
They appeared on the trunk of a beech tree, 4ft. from the ground, about 20ft from our hives.
Whilst brushing into a nuc. box to transfer into the hive they went mad, I picked up about 20 stings on 1 hand and they were trying to get inside the cotton gauntlets that we wear and were checking every possible weak point in our defenses. They are also pingy and followers. Our own colonies don't need smoke at all and are quiet as lambs.

Our current plan is to unite with one of our smaller colonies, having got rid of the Q from hell first.

Any other suggestions would be welcome.

Tim

P.S. Maybe we should have let them go on their way, but that would have possibly set up violent feral colony in the area which isn't a good idea, as anybody who got stung would blame the local beeks.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

stick em in a nuc and flog them to a beginner for £200.00 - that's what some associations in London do or so I'm led to believe.

 

[theeggman]

Thanks JBM,

We'll keep that option in mind.

The upside is that SWMBO gained a couple of stings to her hands, whilst standing 4 ft. away. Her first ever stings, and no reaction. That's that hurdle crossed. And NO I'm not glad she got stung BUT it had to happen some time and at least we know the answer to the question is she allergic.

Tim

 

[Heather]

Find that queen, dump, and offer frame of BIAS. They may kill off your nice Nucs, so I wouldn't risk that.

 

[theeggman]

Thanks Heather, that may be the way to go.

Tim

 

[victor meldrew]

They maybe cold and hungry , could have been out a few days ,caught in a downpour and ergo not very happy!
VM

 

[oliver90owner]

Heather is spot on. Prime swarm. Get rid of queen and in six weeks or so you should have a new colony headed by your better bees' genes.

Then you could flog them, probably for no more money, but more confident of customer satisfaction!

 

[MuswellMetro]

stick em in a nuc and flog them to a beginner for £200.00 - that's what some associations in London do or so I'm led to believe.

So many swarms this year that they have reduced the price to £170, they are just about on 3 frames of brood and sold at six weeks after hiving the swarms,

rookery nook,for a queen of unknown age, unkown fecundity or temper

if a beginner needs a swarm then i lend them a nuc and frames or skep and they take it themselves either with me or by themselves ( just done one tonight by telephone,I told her were a spare nuc with frames was and then talked her through collecting the swarm,in returm for a pack of ten brood frames to replace my wax and frames)

 

[jimmybee]

The temper of the swarm will change after you let them settle, had one few years back was really nasty until they had a good feed and a home. Ended up getting a massive honey crop off them as well if not just re queen.

 

[Little John]

The upside is that SWMBO gained a couple of stings to her hands, whilst standing 4 ft. away. Her first ever stings, and no reaction. That's that hurdle crossed. And NO I'm not glad she got stung BUT it had to happen some time and at least we know the answer to the question is she allergic.

First stings often don't cause much of a reaction - it's the next sting(s) which might, after her immune system has created some antibodies to the venom. But let's hope not. LJ

 

[theeggman]

Thanks Rab,

We'll probably follow Heather's route and IF they become better behaved we will unite with one our smaller colonies to get a large hive going into winter. Any honey production will be a bonus.

Tim.

P.S. We came out the last winter with 4 colonies, we're currently at 6 + 1 in a nuc. 1 cast swarm in a dummied hive and this load of ****.

We thought beekeeping was going to be a pleasant occupation in our retirement, especially as SWMBO requires honey for her porridge every day.

Tim.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Beekeeping is a challenge, theeggman, it will keep you young.
Have a read of "The Bees"by Laline Paull for a bit of light relief. SWMBO will like it. The ending brought a tear to my eye.

 

[theeggman]

Beekeeping is a challenge, theeggman, it will keep you young.
Have a read of "The Bees"by Laline Paull for a bit of light relief. SWMBO will like it. The ending brought a tear to my eye.

Thanks EricA.

 

[Jimy Dee]

Eggman - if they dont cool down, try use the workers in the swarm to your advantage. Consider locating the swarm (in a hive) next to/very close to one of your good hives. Let the swarm there for a few days to orient. Then under the cover of darkness take away the swarm hive to a new location at least 6 feet away and the following morning the swarm workers will leave their hive (relocated since the night before) and go back to where they had been for the previous few days. They will go back to their old site and with no hive in its precise location they will go into their old neighbouring hive (one of your good ones). This will boost numbers and should increase honey yield. What will be left in the swarm box will be small and then up to you what you want to do with this. Previous replies have a number of suggestions. Bottom line - use the workers in the swarm to your advantage. Down side is that you may be bringing in disease you do not have. Just an idea to try assist you. Best of luck in what ever you do.

 

[user 6228]

Had this once with a prime swarm from perfectly well behaved colony housed in a hive. A large amount of bees re swarmed.
The swarm from it was homicidal when we attempted to retrieve it (a 10+ stinger ) yet they became perfectly docile again after we dumped them back in the hive they came from...
We inferred that they went and clustered without their queen. Whether the inference was correct, we have no direct evidence, but their behaviour was pretty clear

 

[The Riviera Kid]

Let the swarm settle a day or so. My usually tranquil bees have been very grumpy this last week. Your swarm probably just need to settle in.

 

[theeggman]

Quick update.

This PM normal activity at hive entrance BUT a 1ft dia. circle of bees 1 bee deep on the base of the trunk of the beech tree, down at ground level, not at swarm landing site. ???

We're away for a few days as of Sun. so hope they sort themselves out by our return.

My suit of armour is currently in the wash after yesterday so I didn't go in for a close look. As an aside, the suits we were wearing yesterday when we hived the ***t swarm were BB Lightweight and No stings through but OOH so cool! And they will dry in about 30 mins.on the line.

Tim.

P.S. NO connection to BB just a satisfied customer.

 

[theeggman]

Just returned from an alien place, Suffolk, to find chickens have been foxed AND the bees are STILL hanging on the beech trunk.
They are 1 ft. dia. 2 bees deep.
Current plan, given suitable weather tomorrow, check the swarm from hell for volume, smoke the by now very hungry bees off and or brush the bees into a dustpan/ nuc. and tip into the hive.

ANY other options would be welcome!!

Tim.