Actually we sort of successfully hived them. I say sort of because I cut the comb out and put it in a transport box which I put where the trap was. I knew I had the queen Because within 2 hours there were no bees were lingering on the supports. after dark I closed them up and took them to an outyard. The next day I went to the yard with a new hive, stand, two frames of brood, 1 of stores and 1 drawn comb. took the frame I had banded their comb in and placed it in the hive. dumped the bees in, and placed in the frames I brought with me. No sooner had I put the lid on the bees began streaming out. In a minute the sky above the yard was a cloud on bees. I knew the queen had flown. I sat on the tailgate of my truck hoping she would lite within reach.
Within a minute the bees began to gather in a hawthorn tree about 15 feet off the ground. What Luck! I backed my truck under the tree and was able to reach the branch, pulled it down and carefully held it while I cut it off. took it to the hive removed 5 frames, and shook the bees in. soon the remaining airborne bees began filing in. It has been a week and they are behaving normal. so I guess they decided to stay.
In all the years I have been keeping bees that is the first time I have had a swarm build an exposed hive under a baited trap. These bees they are a changing!
