Swarm Traps & Obstinate Bees

[Grant]

I had a couple of funny swarms, and I do every year. Every year there are a couple of swarms that don't go in the trap but rather prefer to build off the bottom of the trap.

One swarm I vaccuumed off the bottom of the trap and transferred to a single brood box.

The second swarm I smoked away from the comb, then cut the comb off. With no comb left, they went into the swarm trap.

My swarm traps are 6-frame nuc boxes with a 1x4" board screwed to the side. I use a 60-penny nail into the tree to hold the trap.

Not sure why they prefer to build off the bottom rather than go inside, but you can see my pictures at:

http://www.swarmpics.homestead.com

Grant
Jackson, MO

[Chef Isaac]

Nice pictures, Grant!

I had a swarm move into a laying worker hive a few weeks ago. That was a nice surprise!

I also had a swarm move into a nuc that I did not feel like hauling up the big hill so I left it on the bottom of the hill. That was a nice surprise too! :)

[Brandy]

I had two swarms that did the same thing. Built on the outside of the trap. I put one of them inside the box twice before they decided to stay. Still have no clue why they wouldn't go inside. I make sure to remove allllll the wax from underneath the catcher hive before I replace it. You just never know what they will do next!! Usually 1 in 10 seem to do this in my area.

http://s109.photobucket.com/albums/n50/PurpleBrandy/?action=view&current=DSCN2320.jpg

[beyondthesidewalks]

Thanks, Grant, for sharing the swarm pics. I noticed that the pics all seem to be taken at night. Is that when you normally check your swarm traps?

The manhole hive is interesting. I've seen and heard of several hives in water meter boxes. I've tried to let the local meter reader know that if he ever encounters a swarm in a meter box to call me. So far I'm like the Maytag repairman, waiting for the phone to ring.

[Grant]

I check my traps during the day, generally about once a week. I go back at night to remove the trap when all the field bees are in the trap. Tonight is warm and I went back to pick up a trapped swarm. There must have been a couple of hundred bees on the front just milling around. I gave them a dose of smoke and they all decided to go indoors.

Once they are in, I cover the hole with duct tape and take them to my home yard. While still in the dark, I set up the hive on a pre-arranged hive stand and remove the duct tape.

Once they have a few days to orient and acclimate, I transfer the six frames from the trap to a ten frame brood box with a screen bottom board, and depending upon the amount of drawn comb they made in the trap, I may add a super or another brood box. It also depends on the time of season. Right now we are absolutely flooded with sweet clover nectar. Early spring rains and warm temps have turned the nectar flow on in a big way.

As other yards need more hives, I'll transfer these brood boxes either early in the morning or late at night when all the bees are still home.

Grant
Jackson, MO