Swarms not as plentiful this year

[JamezF]

Think I might have had another swarm take up residence in my home bait hive recently, possibly even today. No-one seems to have noticed it arriving, but there definitely appeared to be orientation flights happening this afternoon. I was out a fair bit of the day sorting out swarms elsewhere, so I could easily have missed it arriving. I'll pop the lid tomorrow and have a quick look.

James

 

[RogerIvy]

We got two swarms on Saturday so activity seems to be picking up. One was a call from somebody and on the way there we saw a small swarm in a tree. Both seem to be doing ok.

 

[Cuckmere couple]

i think we are about to see a lot of swarms...lots of pent up colonies waiting for better weather

 

[Curly green finger's]

You can say that again 8 bait hives all with activity now scout bees pinging of the internal walls

 

[E&MBees]

Had a couple of scout bees eyeing up the nucs that I was loading into the car ready for yesterday’s challenging session.

 

[JamezF]

Definitely have a colony in the bait hive I had out. I feel sure it must have arrived yesterday.

So this morning at about 10am I set up another a short distance away. There are at least a dozen bees checking it out already.

James

 

[Newbeeneil]

If I get a swarm in one of my bait hives I always take it away and set another up as I find I often get a caste swarm a week later.

 

[JamezF]

If I get a swarm in one of my bait hives I always take it away and set another up as I find I often get a caste swarm a week later.

I've found this year that having moved the bait hive away, some bees always seem to return even if I move it the same day that they took up residency. Not many, but enough to fight off other scouts if I put another bait hive in its place. I've therefore taken to alternating between two different locations perhaps 25m apart. Of course this all goes to pot when you fail to notice a swarm arriving so I might now have to find a third location

James

 

[Erichalfbee]

I've found this year that having moved the bait hive away, some bees always seem to return even if I move it the same day that they took up residency. Not many, but enough to fight off other scouts if I put another bait hive in its place. I've therefore taken to alternating between two different locations perhaps 25m apart. Of course this all goes to pot when you fail to notice a swarm arriving so I might now have to find a third location

James

Happens to me. I leave an empty super and tip the bees into the moved colony for a few nights.

 

[Curly green finger's]

I’ve hived 4 swarms today and only one was mine I think the others have come from the big wood as they are all unmarked queens I can’t be certain of cause

 

[Nannysbees]

Had a call from a neighbour this evening to say that a young family had a swarm in the garden, panicking a bit. I phoned the local swarm catcher but he said he was inundated. I did ask if we couldn't house them would he take them. So we went and got them at 7pm. Didn't think to take a photo and we forgot our smoker!!! As it happens we didn't need it, very calm on a cotoneaster. Didn't see the queen but a few bottoms in the air on the frames. Had to leave a few stragglers.
Progressed from,two hives waiting for 2 new queens to arrive tomorrow. One hive with a capped queen cell waiting to emerge and now a swarm. What a difference a few days make!!!!

 

[Ian123]

Had a call from a neighbour this evening to say that a young family had a swarm in the garden, panicking a bit. I phoned the local swarm catcher but he said he was inundated. I did ask if we couldn't house them would he take them. So we went and got them at 7pm. Didn't think to take a photo and we forgot our smoker!!! As it happens we didn't need it, very calm on a cotoneaster. Didn't see the queen but a few bottoms in the air on the frames. Had to leave a few stragglers.
Progressed from,two hives waiting for 2 new queens to arrive tomorrow. One hive with a capped queen cell waiting to emerge and now a swarm. What a difference a few days make!!!!

Your going to need a bigger patio!

 

[Erichalfbee]

We (the family) were just commenting on the lack of swarms this year

I think all that is about to change. The weather is sunny and the weekend is four days away

 

[Erichalfbee]

What a difference a few days make!!!!

I know the feeling
Where are your queens coming from?

 

[JimBee463]

Well, my main colony (after i'd split 3 weeks ago) swarmed on Saturday, decided they didn't fancy it, went home and then swarmed again on Sunday (they went back into the hive within 20 minutes on Saturday). Fortunately they only went about 10 metres across the garden and settled low in a plum tree (a couple of feet off the ground). I'd obviously missed a QC when I had done the split and thought i'd left just one. Anyway, a fellow beek had a colony that had turned into a DLQ so I happily donated the swarm to him (I'd collected them in a nuc on the Sunday) as I just don't have room in my home apiary for any more colonies and am yet to find a suitable spot for an out-apiary.

 

[Nannysbees]

I know the feeling
Where are your queens coming from?

Black Mountain

 

[Nannysbees]

Your going to need a bigger patio!

No............. four is the limit any more we would have to reunite at the end of the season. Hope to god we don't have to make splits

 

[Erichalfbee]

Hope to god we don't have to make splits

You have to be really strict with yourself. Once the new queen is laying choose one and reunite. Or Demaree then at least you are going upwards

 

[Nannysbees]

Black Mountain

Scrap that, just phoned and they aren't ready until June!!!! Lucky I checked just ordered from becky's bees,phew!!!!!!!

 

[Curly green finger's]

Another swarm today 2 ish out side the workshop must of happened when me and the daughter were out on our rounds .