View Full Version : open air hive
mswaf100
08-31-2009, 07:28 PM
I just pulled a hive of bees off the outside of a tree.
I'm not talking about a swarm, these bees had literally built comb just hanging off the bottom of a branch in a pecan tree.
I didn't know they would do that!!
BeeAware
08-31-2009, 08:16 PM
I had one like that in my area a few years ago. It is uncommon, but it happens. Good catch!
Beeslave
08-31-2009, 08:41 PM
Tropical honeybees, the giants with no stinger(can't think of it right now) do that. Maybe they couldn't find a hollow tree or clean empty hive.
Josh Carmack
08-31-2009, 08:57 PM
Did you get pictures? tell me you got pictures?
I see 3-4 a year like that.
Gene O
08-31-2009, 09:25 PM
I capture a swarm a few years back like that in a pecan tree lady said she knew that they had been there for 2 month at least . T hey had built side by side 4 strips of comb just as if they were in a hive queen was laying there was brood.
mswaf100
09-01-2009, 05:36 AM
Yes, i got pictures, but I don't know how to post them in this forum. Tell me how and I will post them.Or send me a private message with your email and I will send them to you direct.
bnatural
09-01-2009, 06:12 AM
Post them to a website, like www.photobucket.com, and then link from there.
Bill
LenInNorCal
09-01-2009, 07:45 AM
You more than pulled them out of the tree, you saved a whole hive! Congratulations! Can hardly wait to see the photos!
Jer733
09-01-2009, 11:24 AM
I get a see more then a few of these in San Diego area each year.
Took one from a pepper tree in the spring that had wintered (that’s what they call it out here?) from prior year.
Ball of combs, sat it in two deeps, bees were not happy at all and very stingy to everyone in area.
Took apart comb and actually found the queen and re-queened them.
Comb was very neat, kept the core for some time as it was a spiral from the anchor point down into the center of the comb.
Neat looking.
Not to get dramatic here, but I associated them more to AHB genes then anything else. I am sure some EHB stock gets stuck without a cavity and build. Due to allowable environmental factors, they will likely survive outdoors.
My two cents.
mswaf100
09-01-2009, 10:52 PM
Here is a link to pictures of the open air hive.
http://s860.photobucket.com/albums/ab164/mswaf100/
devdog108
09-02-2009, 06:18 AM
whew...glad you have your wallet on that chain....those bees can be quite the little thieves...LOLO. Im sorry, Ill go back to my hole now. That was an awesome swarm btw
beemandan
09-02-2009, 06:49 AM
Here's a photo of one from Athens, GA. It was a couple of years ago. Local folks said it had been there for a few seasons. I haven't gone by to look this year, so I don't know if its still hangin' in (pun intended).
http://boogerhillbee.com/beetree.jpg
Grant
09-02-2009, 07:19 AM
Here are some of my pics at this web site
http://www.swarmpics.homestead.com
I run several swarm traps baited with pheromone lures. Every year, 3 to 4 of these traps attract a swarm, but for some reason, the bees build on the bottom of the trap, not in the trap.
It takes extra effort to either move the bees, or convince them (yeah, right) to move into the lovely accommodations I've provided.
Grant
Jackson, MO
Gene O
09-02-2009, 10:13 AM
I came across a photo on photobucket by was a tree full of bees. You should see the in photbucket type a tree full of honeybees what a site to see