PaleoPerson
Field Bee
This year I have had two experiences whilst collecting swarms that beggers belief.
The first:
Got called out to a swarm, but halfway there, got a call cancelling the collection as 'A friend wanted to keep bees and her husband had bought her a hive and this would start her off'. As I was not far away, I said I would still call, her friend could keep the bees and I would give any help if needed.
On arrival, the 'hive' had been placed below the swarm that was only 300mm (12" near as dammit in old money) off the ground and they were hoping the bees would just go in on their own accord.
The hive type, National? Commercial, Langstroth? nope A Bumble Bee Box bought off ebay that was half the size of the swarm.
The second:
Called to another swarm on a fence, nothing too odd about that until I was about to leave. I was asked to see the neighbour next door as he had 'a few bees' on his side of the fence. I thought this was strange as I had looked and could not see any.
When I went around, the bees were in a plant pot at the bottom of the fence all wet and I thought dead.
As I was told, the swarm flew into his garden and landed on the fence. His attempt to get rid of them was to shower them with water, and some fell into the flower pot. When this did not get rid of them, he got a shovel and pushed them over the fence onto the neighbours side and then went round and told him he had a swarm and should get rid of them.
The wet bees revived and are a good strong colony.
The first:
Got called out to a swarm, but halfway there, got a call cancelling the collection as 'A friend wanted to keep bees and her husband had bought her a hive and this would start her off'. As I was not far away, I said I would still call, her friend could keep the bees and I would give any help if needed.
On arrival, the 'hive' had been placed below the swarm that was only 300mm (12" near as dammit in old money) off the ground and they were hoping the bees would just go in on their own accord.
The hive type, National? Commercial, Langstroth? nope A Bumble Bee Box bought off ebay that was half the size of the swarm.
The second:
Called to another swarm on a fence, nothing too odd about that until I was about to leave. I was asked to see the neighbour next door as he had 'a few bees' on his side of the fence. I thought this was strange as I had looked and could not see any.
When I went around, the bees were in a plant pot at the bottom of the fence all wet and I thought dead.
As I was told, the swarm flew into his garden and landed on the fence. His attempt to get rid of them was to shower them with water, and some fell into the flower pot. When this did not get rid of them, he got a shovel and pushed them over the fence onto the neighbours side and then went round and told him he had a swarm and should get rid of them.
The wet bees revived and are a good strong colony.
