View Full Version : Swarm Box removal
EngineeringBeek
05-31-2008, 06:34 PM
I have bees that have moved into one of my swarm boxes. I'm not sure how long they've been there, could be up to 2 weeks. I would like to move it, but I'm also worried that I may move it when the queen is out on her mating flight if she was a virgin. Is this is a valid concern?
Also, they will only be moved about 1.6 miles. Should I be concerned about them going back to the location of the swarm box or will they be fine?
Moonshae
05-31-2008, 07:34 PM
Possible, if you got an afterswarm and not a primary swarm. You can generally tell buy the number of bees. If there are a lot, it's probably primary, and the old, already mated queen is there. Nothing wrong with taking a look in the trap to see if you can find the queen or eggs. You could also just wait 3 weeks and treat it like a cutout at that point.
beenovice
05-31-2008, 07:42 PM
Is she flying at night ? If not them move the box then ;)
pzbeez
05-31-2008, 07:42 PM
just move them at night, then put a branch in front of the hive and they will reorient.
EngineeringBeek
05-31-2008, 07:52 PM
Ok, so during mating the queen does not fly at night? I had assumed that they went out on their own for a couple days and didn't return even at night but I'm also not very experienced.
hankdog1
05-31-2008, 09:00 PM
Ok, so during mating the queen does not fly at night? I had assumed that they went out on their own for a couple days and didn't return even at night but I'm also not very experienced.
No she will not fly at nite no bees will unless in defence of the hive no way to get back with the sun not up. Go out after dusk make the move and like they say a branch or grass to make sure the bees orient themselves to where the new location is.
The queen may well stay out over night on a mating flight. That said, the chances are small that the day you move them is the day she is out.
EngineeringBeek
05-31-2008, 11:11 PM
I don't think it's hurting anything to leave them where they are. They're in a horse pasture about 10 feet up a tree. The property owner didn't even notice the bees until I checked and then told him there were bees in it.
moonlightbeekeeper
06-01-2008, 02:02 AM
i would wait until there are eggs. is it a round trap? could you move it to a nuc or deep box for a while until you can move them? congrats on catching a swarm in a trap!! tell us how you set it what lure you used, why you picked the location you picked again congrats
Michael Bush
06-01-2008, 09:17 AM
As far as I can tell and as far as I've read, queens fly out in the afternoon and return in the late afternoon or evening. I see no reason to assume she'd be out at night.
EngineeringBeek
06-01-2008, 11:12 AM
i would wait until there are eggs. is it a round trap? could you move it to a nuc or deep box for a while until you can move them? congrats on catching a swarm in a trap!! tell us how you set it what lure you used, why you picked the location you picked again congrats
It is a top bar nuc box that I made. It has 8 bars and all I have to do is transfer the bar to a hive. The problem I have is that it is about 10-11 feet up and the roof is just a sheet of plastic stapled on. I don't want to stand on a 10 foot step ladder and inspect for eggs etc then have to staple the plastic sheeting back on. I also don't want to take it down because it was a pain to get up and I don't want to be putting it back up if there are no eggs etc yet. I may go out and check it again tomorrow to see how the activity level looks. I will likely just wait until late at night and move it.
I think you can get it down and moved to a permenent location. As they draw out and fill the topbars they become heavier and therefore more fragile. All the tipping and jostling may break the new comb. I'd do it sooner rather than later