How not to catch a swarm...

[tedstruk]

I put a big swarm of bees in a plastic box with a plywood cover and a small hole cut in it; so they could go in and out. In the box, I put a huge lump of melted down bees wax and a small jar of honey; and a rolled up piece of green plastic fencing so they would have somewhere to build. I ordered my hives and waited for the floods in Dadant country to subside before the equip was sent. When I opened the box to move the bees, most were dead. What was a strong swarm, with a great chance of survival became weak and sad. I moved them to the hive and have been feeding them hoping to see more activity. Out of about 2500 bees, I lost about half. In haste to help them, I went in the brood box and pryed all the frames out that they had combed together and exposed a bunch of larva in the third stage of growth....
I guess you could say I am like a bringer of horrid disaster and destruction... rather than the nice beekeeper guy I wanted to be. (I only cry for those who got stung:D) Did you know bees are really dumb?

[hummingberd]

sorry to hear about the misfortune. But your intentions were in the right place, and that's a good place to start! Don't give up on them. Give them a frame of brood from one or two of your strongest hives. Feed them lots of syrup, and watch them grow! Bees are pretty darn resilient! In a month's time, your mistakes will be forgotten! Good luck :)