Swarm Q

[region2]

Q stands for question and not Queen...

Collected a swarm today around lunchtime - easy capture with box raised up around the clump and secateurs to release them from the hedge. Couldn't wait 'til the evening as I'm away for the night.
Just putting them in the hive when the 'phone rings: 'they're back and we've got a garden party tomorrow!'
Seems there's a fist sized ball of bees in the area of the original swarm - I assured her that I had the queen so these would disperse. Q. Was I correct?

R2

 

[Moggs]

They may hang around for quite a while if there is queen pheromone lingering. Could you go back with a small box?

Usually pays to wait until late in the day to catch each and every one!

 

[Outlander]

Now I’m very new at this so I may be wrong but I was told that they could hang around for days or until the queen pheromone had worn off of branch or whatever she was on. I picked a large prime swarm up from a housing estate could not leave box until evening as the local kids had been throwing stones at them night before. Went back that evening still lots flying about. Went back after dark found them all clustered on the floor on a broken branch, picked them up took them to hive popped them in. Checked next morning at swarm site no bees. May be you should check tomorrow and collect at dusk as this also would show signs of good beekeeping.

 

[village girl]

 

[Queens59]

'Fraid so - If you have left a significant number they will hang around and get vv bad tempered as they can't find the queen. You'll need to collect them asap

 

[DarynWebb]

'Fraid so - If you have left a significant number they will hang around and get vv bad tempered as they can't find the queen. You'll need to collect them asap

 

[Heather]

Hope you got them.

I usually have a can of Bquik (never use in the hive)- just to spray on the branch of the swarm area- soon shifts them to rejoin the rest, and they lose that pheromone smell immediately. Gets me home quicker!

 

[susbees]

Yep, responsible beekeeping in most circumstances and especially where there's proper allergy, built up area, important event next day etc means closing up at sunset. Even dispersant sprays if you don't wait for the foragers properly could result in large numbers of bees hanging around the next day or two getting grumpier and grumpier til they die.

Exception would be eg. collecting a dormant swarm in pouring rain when there are no bees foraging and they can be very quietly put in a box. Exception would not be your convenience.

 

[Outlander]

Exception would not be your convenience.

 

[Heather]

Even dispersant sprays if you don't wait for the foragers properly could result in large numbers of bees hanging around the next day or two getting grumpier and grumpier till they die.
.

The dispersant spray on the branch where they have clustered just stops them returning as it smothers the queen pheromone there so they join the swarmed colony much quicker.
Also put the swarm box into the nearest shaded area... that encourages them to cluster rather than keep flying about.

 

[Black Comb]

I always spray the branches and surrounding area (where they have been hanging) with perfumed water.
Agree just before sunset is the time to collect.

 

[region2]

Unfortunately I was away that pm so had to take them there and then. Went back last night and got the rest - smoked the area thoroughly and got stung on the leg (memo to self: shorts aren't ideal for this sort of thing!). Dumped these bees on the ground in front of the new hive in the hope they'll rejoin their sisters.

R2

 

[Heather]

Why not sugar spray both lots and pop into top of hive of same colony.. make life easier for them. Now they have to run gauntlet of guards and it has been a couple of days- hope they remember them

 

[Outlander]

Better late then never I suppose, hope the garden party went well without too many angry bees stinging the guests. May be next time if you can’t complete the task in good time you should pass it on to someone who can, would be kinder to the bees and the residents that have to put up with the bees that are left behind.

 

[Poly Hive]

Jayes fluid as a spray is quite effective at removing the scent.

PH

 

[region2]

Better late then never I suppose, hope the garden party went well without too many angry bees stinging the guests. May be next time if you can’t complete the task in good time you should pass it on to someone who can, would be kinder to the bees and the residents that have to put up with the bees that are left behind.

Hmm - your response warrants a further explanation now that I've counted to 10...
When I took the swarm I left my details and explained that, if they returned, I would be back. They rang, I popped over to them and the problem was resolved in good time. The location of the swarm was some distance from the party so I'm confident that there will be no more interaction between party goers and bees than between any other critter in the countryside where they live.
So thanks for your advice Outlander but maybe you should be a tad less judgemental before swinging in there with your advice.

R2

 

[Chris Luck]

Well I'll be judgemental about anything to anyone, starting with ""Jayes fluid as a spray is quite effective at removing the scent.""

Clearly not bothered about the environment Poly? I find some of these practices just so disgusting.

So, now to swarms. Two choices but both require collecting at dusk, either the same day or "hived" at the site and removed at a later date AT DUSK. This is just so basic, there's no guesswork or scratching of heads involved, I often go back 40km each way to collect at dusk, (and I don't even want the bees).

Chris

 

[village girl]

hi if you collect a swarm befor all foragers retun and dont wait for them but spray something to remove the queens sent dosent that leave all the foragers with no place to gather therfor more upset and more of a problem to people in the area, at least if thear is a scent branch the bees will gather in one area and can be collected later. dont you think ?

 

[Chris Luck]

Even if you "spray" something the bees will still return to that specific area and hang around AND cluster at night if there are sufficient of them.

They can easily remain there for a week or two, not a day or two!!!!!

Chris

 

[Outlander]

Hmm - your response warrants a further explanation now that I've counted to 10...
When I took the swarm I left my details and explained that, if they returned, I would be back. They rang, I popped over to them and the problem was resolved in good time. The location of the swarm was some distance from the party so I'm confident that there will be no more interaction between party goers and bees than between any other critter in the countryside where they live.
So thanks for your advice Outlander but maybe you should be a tad less judgemental before swinging in there with your advice.

R2

May be one should have explained themselves a little clearer from the start. OK maybe the party goers where safe that’s really good then and I hope a good time was had by all. The poor bees must have been distressed though I feel not really fair on them but your bees and as long as you feel that you have done the right thing that all OK then.

PS you really didn't have to explain yourself to me you know