swarm on ground

[kayakdg]

I got a swarm call today. Befor I got on the road a called the homeowner to get what info I could. How big,were,how high,how long have they been there? Many times this can provent getting there and finding a hornets nest in the tree She said they were on the ground with no nest. Well I went there and there was about a 3 lbs swarm on the ground, The size of a turkey platter and about an inch thick. Every other swarm I have gotten was in a tree. Does it mean anything that the swarm was on the ground. As far as I know there are no bee keepers near by so I don't thing a clipped queen walked that far. Thanks Dan

[BULLSEYE BILL]

I had one earlier this year. The homeowner said that they were in the tree, and sure enough there was a small branch, no, twig, near the pile.

I suspected that perhaps the queen may have been damaged in the fall and could no longer fly. They were hard to get in the box as the grass was a bit high and nearly impossible to scoop up.

I ended up useing HBH on the frames and scooped enough of them into the box to get them to start fanning. They did not all go in the box that night and it wasn't until the next evening was I able to remove them.

[BjornBee]

Many times just sitting a hive box next to the pile is enough to get them started moving in the box. I would scoop a handfull as already noted to get them started. Then its like some great mass march into the hive. Let it sit for the day and move the next day (morning/evening) when all are inside. They are looking for a dark cavity. A cardboard box with a hole cut in the bottom side will do. A little sugar water helps. Caught many swarms like this in fields where there is nothing for the queen to land on. Its normal and may have nothing to do with the queens ability to fly.

[bjerm2]

The queen got tired and needed to land. The workers then covered her up to protect her. There is nothing unusual about that. I would bring over a hive with one frame of brood, sealed or open does not matter, scoop up some bees into the box and onto the frame, and let the bees climb right into the hive. Take them home that night. This is the fun part of beekeeping.
Dan