[ankklackning]

So, this is just a fun thing to think about...

Have you ever wondered, how many swarms average per year are created by the average beekeeper's apiary that the beekeeper himself doesn't recover? Or that are missed, and not found, or not noticed?

I wondered about this, this morning.

Its possible I think because we can't just always be in the yard.

 

[LarryBud]

One of the things I read recently (from a USDA research paper on Varroa) is that overwinter losses on feral swarms was 90% in the first year and near 100% on the second year. While there are some one offs that do make it longer, they are very rare showing hygienic behavior or extremely isolated. With that said, all of the caught "feral" swarms are probably from managed hives.

 

[fieldsofnaturalhoney]

Have you ever wondered, how many swarms average per year are created by the average beekeeper's apiary that the beekeeper himself doesn't recover? Or that are missed, and not found, or not noticed?

My wonderings, would tell me A LOT 😁

 

[LarryBud]

My wonderings, would tell me A LOT 😁

It's this COVID lifestyle we have combined with winter-we're all siting around overthinking a lot of stuff.

 

[JWPalmer]

Last year I got about four of my swarms. Not sure how many hives actually swarmed but I am willing to bet it was twice that number. So, there is a good chance that I contributed to the feral population, at least for a while.

 

[elmer_fud]

I dont think I have thrown any primary swarms from full sized hives, and I have only caught 1 hive starting swarms cells that I split. I have had a nuc abscond with a new queen and a drone only laying queen with a cup of bees fly off.

 

[Tim Behle]

I'm actually hoping to cause a swarm soon. I had a colony living in my water meter box in my back yard, I tried moving it into a hive, but they absconded to parts unknown 2 days later. So I put the hive on some outdoor shelving 6' high,added a shot of Swarm Commander and started feeding 1-2 gallons of sugar nectar each day next to the water meter box that I had originally found them in. Each morning I add a gallon of 1:1 then a few hours after they start feeding heavy, I dilute it with a gallon of water. Hopefully, they moved into another small location like the one they came from, but with my luck, they found a way into an abandon house and will have plenty of room to keep building!