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Swarm trapout
Topic Started: May 26 2012, 08:34 AM (167 Views)
Phaedrus
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I got a call informing me a swarm of bees had arrived on the roof of the hall I am caretaker for. I thought it was someone winding me up at first, but sure enough a swarm was indeed on "my roof"!

At first I thought the swarm had just settled there ready to send scouts out looking for a new cavity.
When they are in this phase if you are careful you can pick them up by hand.
I made the mistake of not realising this roof was their chosen cavity and I was manually removing them from their new home!.. I paid the price with a couple of stings.

Once I realised they had gone into the roof, it is either open up the roof the get them or attempt a trap-out.

The swarm arrived:
http://northwalesvingtsun.co.uk/HallSwarm.JPG

Clustered up:
http://northwalesvingtsun.co.uk/HallSwarm2.JPG

Tried boxing them manually:
http://northwalesvingtsun.co.uk/Careful.JPG

After a few handfuls I got stung a couple of times.

Plan Bee (sorry) My first attempt at a Trapout:

Just got my cone made and in place when... Here comes the cavalry! (my beek mentor to offer advice and encouragement).
http://northwalesvingtsun.co.uk/ConeCavalry.JPG

After some discussion this was what we came up with:
http://northwalesvingtsun.co.uk/Sanctuary1.JPG

http://northwalesvingtsun.co.uk/Sanctuary2.JPG

Just to explain.
The mesh cone allows bees out of the roof via the small hole at the top, but they can`t get back in easily. They smell the queen through the mesh and try to get in at the bottom of the cone.
A hive containing comb is placed close by as they only available sanctuary for the trapped out bees.
Edited by Phaedrus, May 26 2012, 08:39 AM.
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Ray

Great story & photo sequence Trev! What happens next? Assuming they take to the sanctuary can you move them to your hive?
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Phaedrus
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Not quite...My apiary is too close. If I move them there, they will fly back to where they are now.
I`ll move them to a friends place several miles away for a little while and then move them from there up to my apiary.

There`s still no guarantee they will make it. I`m still not sure if the colony is queen right.
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Ray

Fingers crossed for them, you're certainly doing all you can to help them make it.
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