Mad Swarm

[Bob Bee]

Folks,

I came home today and my swarm spotter daughter, saw a swarm on a tree limb in our front yard. I took a look and wow what a swarm, covered a tree limb bout step ladder high about 5 feet long. They were not clumped together like usual. They were all strung out. I hurried and threw some wax on some frames and put it in a old hive and prepared to go after them.
My plan was to spray with sugar syrup and start at the largest clump and brush the off and empty the bucket till I got most of them.
On the first brush, they were very aggressive, it got worst and by the time I got to the third spray and brush. I had them in my suit (tiny hole) up my pants leg (didn't tie them up) and trying to eat me up.
I got most in the hive with about a third still on the limb. I now sit taking my Bendryl typing this.
It was about dark so I guess most guard bees was on guard.

Has anyone experienced this with a swarm? I can understand a cut out but this is about as bad as I've seen a swarm act.
Thanks,
Bobby

[iddee]

I estimated 200 stings with this one. That's only counting the ones in my skin, before I put the suit on. It was 46 degrees. I guess they don't like real cold or real hot weather. I assume it was quite warm in hartwell today.

http://s81.photobucket.com/albums/j226/Iddee/Cold%20swarm/?action=view&current=5ccd2277.jpg

[Bob Bee]

Iddee,

I would sware that the picture is me. Yea Hartwell got up to bout 98/99 today. I just went outside and took a look with a flashlight (from a distance) and there was a little clump still hanging about the size of a softball. The rest was on or in the hive. I hope I got the queen.
Thans Bobby

[BULLSEYE BILL]

Bees don't like to be brushed, rolled, squeezed, or pinched.

I would have done a quick jerky shake of the limb and they should have dropped like a rock into the box. Then again if the limb was to big to do that, then use a little box to scoop them up and pour them into the box.

Using a brush takes a little finesse, very light quick wispy motions to flick them without abusing them works best.

[Bob Bee]

You are right Bill, I usually cut the limb if it's small enough and walk it and the bees down the ladder to the hive, but these were completely surrounding the 3 inch limb and covered a 5 feet distance along the limb with small limbs along the way with bees on it. I'll post a pic sometimes today.
I've had some that didn't mind the brushing but these didn't like it one bit. Also I wasn't high enough and when I was brushing, bees were falling in my face also.
Just one of those "had to" deals with it getting dark also.
Live and learn!
Bobby

[Ross]

Iddee, those black socks are a real bad idea, DAMHIKT.

[Billy Y.]

I've never encountered an aggressive swarm. I've brushed swarms before myself and don't recall having any get after me like that. The only time I recall ever being stung while collecting a swarm is the time I shook a large cluster into a box that was over my head and 1/3 of the clusters spilled over the box and down my shirt. Even with that though only one or two stings.

Could these be "dry" swarms that I have read about in books?

Did anybody try to spray sugar syrup on them and see if it would calm them down?

[Bob Bee]

Billy,

i sprayed them down pretty good. Of course you get the outside bees but not the inside ones. I've never heard of a dry swarm. What is it?
Bobby

[Billy Y.]

According to the books it is a swarm that has been out of the hive long enough for the bees to have consumed all the honey they gorged prior to swarming. Scout bees unable to find a nest location in sufficient time. So now they are hungry and cranky.

Never seen one myself though. How long had the swarm been hanging there?

[ScadsOBees]

Iddee, those black socks are a real bad idea, DAMHIKT.

LOL...the bees were really just mad because they saw him put on the beesuit...you can't see the hawaian shirt and the bermuda shorts in the picture. Fashionable bees ....:p

Bobby,
Do you know if this is a swarm from your hives or not? If so, I can't imagine that it was there for long enough to get "dry". But I suppose I can see why they wouldn't want to be all clustered in that heat....

Rick

[iddee]

Ross, I never dress for bees. I wear my street clothes.

Scads, :p :p :p

[David Stewart]

This thread kind of makes me want to re-think my choice of clothing on swarm calls. Last two I showed up in shorts, no shirt and simple sunglasses for the face.......People think you're crazy anway- at least you get some admiration as being a tough man dressed that way.

David

[Bob Bee]

Hey Folks,

Here are the pictures of the mad swarm that I caught in my yard. I have not checked them since I put them in a hive with 6 frames of plain wax foundation. I've just been feeding them with a full suit on mind you!
Bobby

http://s184.photobucket.com/albums/x146/Bobby2262/Swarm%208-6-2007/

[Parke County Queen]

Wow, that's some swarm! I guess it was worth it.

[aidah]

Wow, That thing is massive. No wonder they were aggressive. Strength in numbers.

[Joseph Clemens]

I agree with Ross, I couldn't go anywhere near my bees with any dark clothing, especially socks and shoes, unless I wanted the worst attention possible.

[Kevin M]

That swarm sure is spread out Bob,thanks for the pics..!
I've only caught two smaller afterwarms after watching my first serious swarm fly off frommy only hive...! The afterswarms were spread out on a 5-6" thick oak limb, one i was able to brush into a box, they were pretty mellow.The second one i did a kinda side scrap along the limb with one of those buckets with a stringed topyou pull shut...The limb was way to thick to do a bang and jolt the swarm into a box. I have to say though, i'm glad i was fully suited up after seeing the pics Iddee and Bob posted..For the most part the bees were pretty mellow...But i once read here on Beesource , Mike Bush saying he's had hives of Italians try to kill him..! Since my girls are Italians, and reading what MB said, plus i've been stung through my bee suit plenty, i usally suit up when i'm doing most stuff with the girls...I don't mind a sting here and there, buttttt...i do have respect for the power of honeybees...!! i guess some breeds are better to deal with than others,but my girls can get a little defensive now and again..:)