| Swarm trapout | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: May 26 2012, 08:34 AM (167 Views) | |
| Phaedrus | May 26 2012, 08:34 AM Post #1 |
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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 | May 27 2012, 10:50 AM Post #2 |
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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 | May 27 2012, 05:58 PM Post #3 |
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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 | May 28 2012, 07:24 AM Post #4 |
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Fingers crossed for them, you're certainly doing all you can to help them make it. |
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