Swarm tips

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Joined
Feb 28, 2010
Messages
2,528
Reaction score
22
Location
Suffolk/Norfolk border
Hive Type
National
Number of Hives
5 ish
Went to an interesting talk yesterday (thank you Elaine) about swarming.
It was very well delivered and interesting for both beginners and old gits alike.

I learnt a handy tip which I don't recall reading anywhere so I'm passing it on.

If you spot a swarm hanging about prior to housing itself and you need to buy some time whilst you get your kit out, spray it lightly with a mist spray. This will then reduce the temperature of the bees which rises just prior to lift off and keep them in place a little bit longer.

Cazza
 
If you spot a swarm hanging about prior to housing itself and you need to buy some time whilst you get your kit out, spray it lightly with a mist spray.
Cazza

Handy hint that.
But I don't think getting one's kit out is a good idea when there's a swarm of bees in the vicinity - especially if it's a public place :eek:
 
makes a change it wasn't dusty
 
Hi Cazza,
I knew it was a way of getting them to stay, but did not know the science behind it. Been told it was because they thought it was raining. Thanks for the science lesson and I did enjoy Jenkins joke very good indeed.
 
Thanks Cazza,

My Dad told me when I got into beekeeping that in the summer his grandmother usedto keep a bicycle pump in a bucket of water at the front door during the summer months she used to spray swrms when they landed but I never knew why. Now I know.

M
 
My mentor,Ken Stevens,who is 94 told me this when we first collected a swarm.I'am pretty sure he said it made them think it was raining.
 
Thanks Cazza,

My Dad told me when I got into beekeeping that in the summer his grandmother usedto keep a bicycle pump in a bucket of water at the front door during the summer months she used to spray swrms when they landed but I never knew why. Now I know.

M

...wasn't for spraying your grandfather, then...
 
Went to an interesting talk yesterday (thank you Elaine) about swarming.
It was very well delivered and interesting for both beginners and old gits alike.

I learnt a handy tip which I don't recall reading anywhere so I'm passing it on.

If you spot a swarm hanging about prior to housing itself and you need to buy some time whilst you get your kit out, spray it lightly with a mist spray. This will then reduce the temperature of the bees which rises just prior to lift off and keep them in place a little bit longer.

Cazza

Hi Cazza,

Who presented this Talk and is it to be delivered again? Especially down south!
 
Hi Cazza,
I knew it was a way of getting them to stay, but did not know the science behind it. Been told it was because they thought it was raining.

I think i read in tom Seeleys book @Honeybee democracy' that the 'swarm cluster temperature raises just before they take off for their new home - thus cooling them down would delay it a bit.
 
Hi Cazza,

Who presented this Talk and is it to be delivered again? Especially down south!

It was delivered for Dicklebees, my bee support group by an experienced beek from Cromer called Elaine Gibbs. I think it will be written up for the Norfolk BKA newsletter too.

If you pay me a large sum of money, I can regurgitate it for you!

Other tips included inspecting early in the morning if you believe your bees may be planning to swarm, looking out for bees crowding the supers stuffing their faces and hanging in curtains in the brood chamber. This will then give you time to AS before the temperature rises and they take off.

Cazza
 
It was delivered for Dicklebees, my bee support group by an experienced beek from Cromer called Elaine Gibbs. I think it will be written up for the Norfolk BKA newsletter too.

If you pay me a large sum of money, I can regurgitate it for you!


Cazza

Excellent - large sum of money en route...
 
I think i read in tom Seeleys book @Honeybee democracy' that the 'swarm cluster temperature raises just before they take off for their new home - thus cooling them down would delay it a bit.

It makes sense. They're insects and have to be warm enough to fly. Cool them down, they can't fly.
 
I think i read in tom Seeleys book @Honeybee democracy' that the 'swarm cluster temperature raises just before they take off for their new home - thus cooling them down would delay it a bit.

Thanks jenkins - you know I am doing the knowledge.
 
Excellent - large sum of money en route...

Please do ask the ladies permission first though, some people get paid for touring the country doing talks and some are a bit techy about having their stuff copied verbatim.
 

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