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  • From: Lewis Cauble <lewis AT hivebody.com>
  • To: ocba AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [ocba] Swarm patrol?
  • Date: Fri, 17 Feb 2012 10:07:17 -0500 (EST)

I would certainly check in with Todd to sign up for the swarm list.

 

Any sort of ventilated container should suffice for transport.  If in doubt, over do the ventilation.  I have moved them in a mostly closed cardboard box.  A nuc with a screened bottom board might be a good option.  The cardboard nucs that fold flat might be handy to keep at work or in your car.

 

Things I like to have on hand include:

1.  Snips to prune around the cluster before cutting the main branch.

2.  A sturdy saw to cut the branch if it is too big for the snips.  A pair of loppers might be better if the branch is medium sized.

3.  Something to put them in.

4.  Queen cage.  This came in super handy last year with a swarm that was on the ground.  I poked through the cluster until I found the queen.  I put her in a cage and placed her in a nuc near the cluster.  Everyone marched right in.  I came back after dark and closed up the nuc and brought it home.

5.  A manila file folder can be handy for scraping a cluster from a flat vertcal surface.

6.  Veil and other protective equipment just in case.

 

Every situation is a little different so be ready to ad lib.  Swarms are nearly always very mellow, but treat them as you would treat a cheerful and friendly drunk with a gun.

 

Adding a frame of open brood does seem to substantially increase the odds of them sticking around.  Feeding is also required but you will be impressed by how fast a swarm will draw comb.

 

I will inevitably have a swarm or two in my yard this spring and will try to post it to this list and do an impromptu hiving a swarm demonstration.  I would like to encourage others to do the same.

 

What other gadgets do you guys like to have on hand?

 

Lewis


On February 15, 2012 at 11:20 AM Blair Christian <blair.christian AT gmail.com> wrote:

> Hi All,
>
> I don't know what the protocol is for swarm patrol, but I have an
> extra hive I'm keeping ready.  I saw some swarms on craigslist last
> year, so I set up an RSS feed for the search for "bee" in the title of
> the post.  Is anybody interested in non-OC swarm announcements from
> craigslist this spring?
>
> Any advice on what a swarm kit for keeping in my car would look like?
> I work in Wake county.  A 5 gallon bucket with a screen lid?  Is it OK
> to keep a swarm in a bucket for an hour or so?
>
> I watched a couple swarm captures on youtube- they make it look pretty
> straightforward.  Is there any advice to prevent them from absconding?
>  Like putting one frame of mostly larvae in the empty deep?
>
> I want to be ready for the craigslist ads like I saw last year where
> folks have an easily accessible swarm in their backyard and they're
> scared of it, and it's on my way home or not too far off.
>
> Best,
> Blair
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