Swarm Trouble

[mwyatt]

Got a swarm call yesterday and headed out to see if it was still around. The caller said it had been there since the day before and there were "lots of bees". Since, acording to the callers, there are always lots of bees I took the same equipment I always take. Two sizes of cardboard boxs, a lopper for any branch cutting, 1 to 1 sugar feed in a spray bottle and tape to seal the box. This swarm was at a farm and there was nobody home when I arrived. For once, they were correct about a lot of bees. Probably as large a swarm as I have ever seen and maybe the largest. Probably about two basketballs worth. They were hanging on an old clothsline pole that had some vines growing in it. The crossbar was thick so there was no cutting possible, so I, as I have many time in the past, started to gently brush the bees into the box. I did this after wetting them with the sugar solution. For about 30 seconds things were fine and then they exploded. They were all over me and stinging like mad. I returned to my truck, put on a veil and gloves and waited for awhile. I went back to the swarm and tried again and this time they really went all out. Chased me to my truck and wouldn't stop stinging. I put the box of what bees I got into the truck and left. So, I guess that a swarm will sting even though the same technique has worked in the past. Next time I will wear a bee suit and a veil. 30 stings in total.

[Ross]

I always wear a suit when I work swarms. You just never know. I had one like that this year too. I left a box and they hived themselves overnight.

[JoeMcc]

Been there....

B-weaver buckfast swarm nailed me 60+ times.

JoeMcc - Who always hives swarms in suit now.

[Beacon Woods]

My husband and I hived a swarm 20 feet up in a tree with a ladder and tractor loader (which obviously couldn't reach all the way up). There was a great big storm coming (30 minutes) and the bees were on a 3-4 inch branch and juuuuussst out of reach. So I started brushing them into the box as my husband in the loader was "catching them". This was the only time I've ever tried brushing a swarm. They were not impressed! I've never been around such angry little buggers, especially 20 feet high in a black walnut tree. Six stings later on my wrist through my gloves and I had enough. I climbed down the tree and then the ladder and then walked through the woods for 50 yards before they left me. Needless to say, I don't think I will ever "brush" again. Could have been the impending storm that made them cranky though.

Ten minutes later we decided that we had the queen and boxed it up. Ran for the house and got pelted with rain.

[dabb]

What you most likely came across is what is called a dry swarm. When a swarm is "around for a few days" they use up all the honey they consumed pre-flight and can become "a little testy". My first question to a caller is always to ask how long have they been there. Longer than a day (because it could have been longer) I just leave a box with a frame of honey and let them hive themselves.
--Debbie

[mwyatt]

You are all correct and I have proof. The "dry swarm" is the most accurate but there was a storm coming, it was cloudy and finally, is wasn't a swarm anymore. I went back yesterday to look for some keys that I dropped in the ensuing "HOOHA" and again checked the crossarm on the clothesline. What I found was a one inch by two inch piece of comb. So, the girls had decided to build an outside hive and I was brushing a hive and not a swarm. I couldn't see the comb because of the mass of bees but I have seen a hive on the outside of a house. It was hanging from the eves and there was four combs of honey and brood. Got stung that time too since they hated the beevac. The advice about placing a hive with honey inside will be taken in the future. What a great idea.

[Moonshae]

I find that bees hate to be brushed, period, so I try to collect swarms by any other means possible first...I've even found that scooping up handfuls (with gloves) bothers them less.