How do you capture a feral hive?

[John D.]

A rural neighbor has asked me if I can get rid of some bees that are in a wood duck box on his property. I've captured swarms before but I have never dismantled and relocated an established hive. Since this is in an AHB area I would ideally like to send a sample to the bee lab for a testing before going to all the trouble of tearing the hive apart and possibly bringing AHB's to my property, but I'm not quite sure how I would get the required sample in a jar or if it's even feasible without taking the hive apart. In the next few weeks I will suit up & ride out to the hive to see what kind of initial reception I will get. If I do get to point of tearing it apart, how do you transfer the bees & the comb to a regular hive body & frames?
Any suggeestions would be appreciated.

[riverrat]

treat it the same way you would a cutout. there is several post here on beesource on how to do cutouts

[Sarge]

Take a long pole and a small black cloth. Tape the cloth to the pole and tap the hive entrance. If they cover the cloth, you, and the rest of the area with stingers they are AFB.
If not then just take the box home and treat like a swarm trap. Remove the cleanout, either top or bottom, and move comb to frames in super. Shake remaining bees into super, place covers in place, place queen excluder on entrance, and move to yard.

[SL Tx]

Maybe the dark cloth experiment mentioned above would be a worthwhile test before messing with any feral colony...I'm of the view that the temperment I see in feral bees is more important than a lab report anyway. Each of my hives are captured ferals (one swarm and three cutouts) and they are well behaved. Nonetheless, I think I'll try it to see how they react and report back.

I wouldn't disturb the duck box until spring since winter is just about here (despite being in the 70's today). If the guy wants them moved right away (and the box is in ok shape), you can staple screen across the entrance after dark then take it down and rehang the box somewhere at your place. In February or so you can disassemble the box and tie salvageable comb into frames.

P.S. I'm in your neck of the woods and could help if it's not too far away.

[Fred Bee]

Take the combs of brood, etc. and cut them out in large sections if possible...as large as the size of a brood frame, if you can. Then put the comb(s) in a brood frame, spaced centered up inside the frame as best as you can. Next, tie a small diameter string, (like kite string) around the comb to secure the comb to the frame. Later on...the bees will eventually re-attach the comb to the frame. Once you have the combs tied into some frames...put the frame(s) in a hive and remove the hive to your desired location. Once at your location you can add more frames of comb or foundation for them to draw out and get better established. Good luck my friend!

[D Coates]

I'm with Fred Bee however, I use rubber bands to hold the cut comb in place. I find tying string of any sort to be a pain while doing it in the heat a cut out. A rubber band also flexes as you add bits and pieces of brood and eggs that you may have missed when you got the big sheets of comb. It's also inexpensive and the bee's will eventually cut them off and drag them out.

[DANIEL QUINCE]

My bees never cut out those rubber bands. I usually remove them when the comb is re-attached to the frame. I keep saying to myself that I need to build those half frames hinged on the bottom with wires to hold the comb. Maybe this winter.
You may want to sacrifice a few bees and get their stings in the black cloth first, than see how they react to the scent.

[John D.]

Thanks for all the helpful tips. Barring the AHB factor it should be a good experience since the hive is only about six feet off the ground. SL TX, I will PM you with location details to see if the distance from you is practical. Thanks for the offer.