I started 2 packages a April 24th.
So when I saw bees in my Pole barn I thought they were from my colonies. I had some comb frames laying in a pile and there was some robbing going on.
I did notice some bees orienting near a stack or lumber and since that didn't make sense to me I too a closer look. 2 year old swarm trap under some boards. The trap has 3-4 frames of old dark comb in it. So I set this up on a table.
Day 2: 30 or so bees in the morning, some fanning at the entrance. @ 5:30 pm more like 100. After dark I found it empty except for 2 or 3 bees, I thought "they must have left some night watch ladies" (Can't call them, "watchmen")
I decided to go pull a few of my other traps so in case there was a swarm it might increase my odds of catching them. I wasn't convinced that these were not my bees.
This is what I found in one of the traps I pulled.
It had been up for 2 years and no discernible activity. My friend was checking it often but.....looks like we missed one.
This is what my pole barn looks like now;
Looks like my third caught swarm.
I will have to get some more deeps ready and get these bees hived up.
So when I saw bees in my Pole barn I thought they were from my colonies. I had some comb frames laying in a pile and there was some robbing going on.
I did notice some bees orienting near a stack or lumber and since that didn't make sense to me I too a closer look. 2 year old swarm trap under some boards. The trap has 3-4 frames of old dark comb in it. So I set this up on a table.
Day 2: 30 or so bees in the morning, some fanning at the entrance. @ 5:30 pm more like 100. After dark I found it empty except for 2 or 3 bees, I thought "they must have left some night watch ladies" (Can't call them, "watchmen")
I decided to go pull a few of my other traps so in case there was a swarm it might increase my odds of catching them. I wasn't convinced that these were not my bees.
This is what I found in one of the traps I pulled.



It had been up for 2 years and no discernible activity. My friend was checking it often but.....looks like we missed one.
This is what my pole barn looks like now;


Looks like my third caught swarm.
I will have to get some more deeps ready and get these bees hived up.