Swarm trapping/catches 2023

Hey Greg "B", nothing in Moody TX yet, my traps are out and the trees (Plum) are blooming like crazy.
I'll check today when I go to decide whether to try the DeMaree method or just do some splits.
Hope your weather breaks soon!

Total noob here. I set up a roughly built trap at my house last Sunday. Bees started showing up on Tuesday. We had some rain Friday night and it was a little cool and windy on Saturday. Seems to have shut them down .

I saw one bee buzzing my empty boxes this morning...IT"S A SWARM! Or, maybe just a hungry bee looking for a free lunch.

A client reported hive # 3 dead over winter. Two weeks ago he heard massive buzzing and now #3 very full of bees. We see no eggs or larvae. Did not look carefully for a queen. Will check again in a few weeks.

I like the honey and this time some tree are flowers it's so stweets for the times !

I just set my first two traps today. 26 more to go. Here in The Portland Oregon area, it has been cold and rainy. It seems silly at this point to be thinking of swarms when it’s hard to even find something blooming, and there is hardly a bee coming in and out of my hives. But, history tells me that two weeks from now the whole world will look different.

Greg, what is the purpose of pulling the windshield wipers up? Oh, and what is all that white stuff

Well, I don't think you have much worry about any swarms just yet!!!!
I've already put out two food plots as well, but, I just can't get it to rain on us. They keep putting it in the forecast but it goes around.
Looks cold man!!!!!

WaverlyBees said:

Greg, what is the purpose of pulling the windshield wipers up? Oh, and what is all that white stuff

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The wipers up position is part of a magical incantation to bring in flying swarms, resembling the raised wings of a flying bee. We also chant and dance in circles to mimic the dance of the bees. It works. Ask Greg how many swarms he caught last year.

My driveway looks much the same, just with about half as much white stuff. We buy the white stuff at Walmarts in the after-Christmas sales when their holiday decorations are cheaper.

WaverlyBees said:

Greg, what is the purpose of pulling the windshield wipers up? Oh, and what is all that white stuff

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Well, not swarm related.
This way the wipers don't get frozen to the glass (and often torn).

The white stuff is for sale.
Come and I will load some for you.
Cheap.
Instructions included.

But yes, all of these swarm and trap talks, you, people.
It is winter up here for another month at the least.

WaverlyBees said:

Greg, what is the purpose of pulling the windshield wipers up? Oh, and what is all that white stuff

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Here in NH leaving your wipers up allows you to clear your windshield of snow without taking the wipes with it.

I've got close to 2" of snow pack with another foot coming tomorrow. High temps have not passed 50 F yet this year and it looks like those temps are at least a couple weeks away. If I put traps up too early, the bears waking up will pull them down. I will be hanging traps in a couple weeks, and that will be a month before any swarms here.

Cobbler said:

I just set my first two traps today. 26 more to go. Here in The Portland Oregon area, it has been cold and rainy. It seems silly at this point to be thinking of swarms when it’s hard to even find something blooming, and there is hardly a bee coming in and out of my hives. But, history tells me that two weeks from now the whole world will look different.

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@Cobbler are you going to do a thread again of all the swarms you catch?

Spring has exploded in Moody Texas!!! Flowers everywhere, Blue Bonnets are in full bloom. Big line of thunderstorms about to move through. (The buckwheat food plot I planted haven't done squat!!! I need more rain)
Three out of four splits have multiple queen cells in them (I added another frame of eggs to the fourth one), aaaaaand I caught my first swarm yesterday!!!! (I don't know when they showed up, I was on the road until yesterday).
I will let them sit a couple days to get good and settled to make sure it's not just a bunch of scouts. (They do look like they are open for business though)

I'm down in a hollow, still have snow in my yard. No pollen yet, maybe by 4/10 willows and alders. About 3 miles away, silver maple at top of hill on southern slope is producing a little that the bees are bringing in there.

That's how it starts here as well. The trees start producing pollen then the flowers come along. The plums have already come and gone for example.
Where are you Mushroom man? (Your profile doesn't say)

I'm in central New Hampshire, Holderness, near Squam Lake, or 'Golden Pond' for the older folk.