Joined
·
24,666 Posts
Nine out of ten beekeepers agree that a fresh swarm is most gentle and not aggressive. Whereas, a swarm which has been hanging somewhere for three days may have used up all or most of the honey in their stomachs, what is some times called a dry swarm, and is therefore hungry and aggressive/defensive, not docile.
I handled a swarm wrapped around a small dogwood trunk a cpl weeks ago, sticking my hand into the thick of the mass of bees scooping them up by hand and dumping them into a hive. Did that about a dozen times getting stung once or twice.
I handled a swarm wrapped around a small dogwood trunk a cpl weeks ago, sticking my hand into the thick of the mass of bees scooping them up by hand and dumping them into a hive. Did that about a dozen times getting stung once or twice.
