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BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => DOWN UNDER BEEKEEPING => Topic started by: max2 on July 18, 2018, 06:09:13 pm

Title: Swarm dates for Qld
Post by: max2 on July 18, 2018, 06:09:13 pm
Hi all,

I put out a very modest local Bee Newsletter.

I would like to include Swarm Dates and Places - it helps other beekeepers to be warned that swarms are about to happen.

Could Beekeepers in Queensland please send their location and date to this topic - thanks
Title: Re: Swarm dates for Qld
Post by: PRYORDARNELL on July 19, 2018, 05:36:39 am
Hi Max
Im very new to beekeeping and am looking for any local Qld knowledge. Is your newsletter available online?
Title: Re: Swarm dates for Qld
Post by: max2 on July 19, 2018, 08:07:29 am
You will find some of the old ones here: http://ecologicalsolutions.com.au/bees/?page_id=21

Send me an e-mail ( max@ecologicalsolutions.com.au) and I will add you to the mailing list - it is free.
Title: Re: Swarm dates for Qld
Post by: eltalia on July 19, 2018, 07:15:09 pm
Top idea Max... I'll suggest late October early November for above the Tropic of Capricorn as 
a "high alert" window. The caveat being swarms happen any time around flows up here.
I was knocking out QCs just a week ago!

Bill
Title: Re: Swarm dates for Qld
Post by: max2 on July 24, 2018, 07:30:02 pm
First swarm in Maleny 4552 - never happened before as far as I know! 24. July 2018 - very much winter here. It was 27C yesterday at my hives. 6 C early morning today.
Title: Re: Swarm dates for Qld
Post by: Bamboo on July 25, 2018, 03:56:19 am
Wow!! Were they yours?
Title: Re: Swarm dates for Qld
Post by: max2 on July 25, 2018, 05:57:11 pm
No, not mine - but there was a swarm at a friends place in Glasshouse and one at Conondale - anybody in SE Qld keep a watch.

I plan to take some honey off today.
Title: Re: Swarm dates for Qld
Post by: Bamboo on July 25, 2018, 06:45:50 pm
Looks to be a good day to take some honey off....another beautiful day in paradise. Was planning to get into mine this week but had an argument with a sledge hammer on Friday......I lost....a couple of broken fingers. Do you put out any swarm traps up there?
Title: Re: Swarm dates for Qld
Post by: max2 on July 27, 2018, 06:14:50 pm
Sorry to hear about your accident. Does not sound good.

We have taken more honey off  and I plan to do more today
Title: Re: Swarm dates for Qld
Post by: Bamboo on July 28, 2018, 03:26:59 am
Thanks for the kind words mate. Are you extracting as you go or do you store until you have enough for a decent run at it? Haven't done an inspection yet but the tip test tells me there is plenty of honey in the hives. Next week I am going to just have to suck up the pain and get in and do inspection I was already late but have had other dramas happening down here as well. Glorious weather we are having, looks like a few showers coming up which will help things along.
Cheers
Mark
Title: Re: Swarm dates for Qld
Post by: max2 on July 28, 2018, 07:39:24 pm
We take 4 supers off and extract and return.
The frames go back to the same hives they came from.

On a decent day we can do about 60 frames and on a VERY good day a little more.

We are very small operaters and us two oldies generally had enough after about 3 hrs. I then bottle and label the honey - readdy for sale.

By the time all is cleaned up and readdy for the next day I had enough. I also gave a garden and cattle and all need some attention.

A few more hives to do today and then I plan to see if I can split some hives.

Don't push things with an injury. At least at my age ( 70) I have learned that it does not pay.
Title: Re: Swarm dates for Qld
Post by: max2 on August 09, 2018, 08:02:49 am
Just heard of a swarm near Palmwoods and another one at Glasshouse. A few cool mornings but warming up again. Expect more swarms - act now if you are in a warm spot.
Title: Re: Swarm dates for Qld
Post by: Bamboo on August 09, 2018, 09:00:53 am
Thanks for the heads up. Will register my name with Palmwoods constabulary for swarms.
Bit the bullet and got into hives today, absolutely chockers took off about 80kg in total. Wall to wall brood and fortunately no QC's. Will put stickies back for clean out then splits next week. We have been having a few chilly nights but the days have been great, much like you being just up the hill so to speak.
Title: Re: Swarm dates for Qld
Post by: Bamboo on August 10, 2018, 04:14:30 am
Another swarm in Palmwoods today. Was down looking at hives after giving them a hard time yesterday. All looking good and peaceful when I hear a buzzing coming from high up in a Ficus and what would you know but a swarm lands in the tree  about 25m up. First time I have ever seen a swarm land while I was there. Great day to be alive!!
Title: Re: Swarm dates for Qld
Post by: max2 on August 10, 2018, 04:38:53 am
We have been taking honey off as well - yesterday and today. I have been bottling and labelling all afternoon.

It does look like the Blue Gum's are slowing - need some rain like most places N and S and W.

I have some tall gums here and often the big swarms go high up where I'm not able to get them.

I have had swarms leave as I was taking frames out of another hive 1 m away. I can hear the swarms taking off from my office ( yet, I can't hear my wife calling for dinner - I wear two hearing aids) - always an amazing experience.
Title: Re: Swarm dates for Qld
Post by: BeeMaster2 on August 11, 2018, 08:39:17 am
Here is a thread on making sugar patties.

https://beemaster.com/forum/index.php?topic=42618.msg366692#msg366692
Title: Re: Swarm dates for Qld
Post by: eltalia on August 13, 2018, 04:13:00 am
No sign of swarming... and walking around the honey job.
Bit of luck the flows will stop, the dry continue and I won't
have to worry about it. :-)))

Bill
Title: Re: Swarm dates for Qld
Post by: max2 on August 15, 2018, 02:36:53 am
3 swarms just 3 km from my bees.  - up the valley from Conondale.

It has been warm here - high 20's C.  Cool mornings. Low humidity, light wind.
Title: Re: Swarm dates for Qld
Post by: max2 on August 16, 2018, 06:49:01 pm
Had two swarms here on my place ( Crystal Waters 4552) within 5 minutes.

I think I got one and the other looks like returned to the hive it came from - huge thing - bees everywhere
Title: Re: Swarm dates for Qld
Post by: max2 on August 25, 2018, 05:15:29 am
24. August - another swarms just up the valley from us ( Policeman's Road)

Meanwhile i had a look at the swarms I cought a couple of weeks ago and they are doing fine
Title: Re: Swarm dates for Qld
Post by: max2 on August 28, 2018, 01:08:45 am
28. August - another swarms here at Crystal Waters - nice one and landed low enough.
Title: Re: Swarm dates for Qld
Post by: Bamboo on August 28, 2018, 08:31:23 am
Wow you sure are getting your share, and some! Must be the rarefied air up there!
Title: Re: Swarm dates for Qld
Post by: max2 on August 29, 2018, 04:39:24 am
29. August - another swarm. Pretty well filled a 10 frame super.

Bamboo - some of these swarms are from my hives but bees seem to attract bees. There are quite a few hives in the valley and some don't quite get the care they need as the owners have other committments.

I'm running out of space. I have made quite a lot of splits and need to make more stands. Our patch here is rather hilly.... :tongue:
Title: Re: Swarm dates for Qld
Post by: Bamboo on August 30, 2018, 10:10:51 am
Max
I guess on the plus side you should have plenty of nucs to sell this year. Looks like a few more showers coming our way next week.

Makes me a little cross that people don't manage their bees like they do other live stock.
Title: Re: Swarm dates for Qld
Post by: max2 on September 02, 2018, 06:36:32 pm
Yes, I'm making as many nuc's as possible.

Another swarms in Beausang lane, one in Policemans's Spur and one right here at Crystal Waters - a near neighbour called me. He has 3 hives and by the time I went around the swarm had settled about 20 m up a tree...and I could go back home.
I suggested he place a trap hive - just in case.
Title: Re: Swarm dates for Qld
Post by: Bamboo on September 03, 2018, 08:23:03 am
Wow certainly pumping up your way.
Obviously there can't be that many hives down here, either that or they are better managed!
Title: Re: Swarm dates for Qld
Post by: max2 on September 04, 2018, 05:38:00 pm
Went to get some Queens from my mate in Glasshouse.
He had 7 swarms so far - at least some simply have flown in.
Title: Re: Swarm dates for Qld
Post by: PRYORDARNELL on September 05, 2018, 07:07:38 am
3rd September
Swarm @ Ravensbourne. By the time I returned the phone call it had already "buzzed" off :cry:
Oh well maybe next time
Title: Re: Swarm dates for Qld
Post by: PRYORDARNELL on September 17, 2018, 07:11:33 am
Another swarm at Ravensbourne today. This time i got there in time and collected them. (https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180917/e3a2a29494deb76ec5da1f48f2d747b7.jpg)

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Swarm dates for Qld
Post by: max2 on September 17, 2018, 11:56:50 pm
Well done !!
A swarms near Conondale yesterday, 17. September
Title: Re: Swarm dates for Qld
Post by: max2 on September 22, 2018, 07:10:04 pm
I have heard of swarms in the past week on the coast( maroochydore area) , Witta and up from Conondale. Cooler weather ahead and this will slow them. I will be making more splits on Wed.
Title: Re: Swarm dates for Qld
Post by: max2 on October 31, 2018, 05:57:32 pm
31. October - a swarms up near Maleny - a warm day and out they are again. I have heard of one in the camping area at Kenilworth too
Title: Re: Swarm dates for Qld
Post by: max2 on December 12, 2018, 11:30:59 pm
13. 12.18 - we have been taking honey off and to my surprise a hive we just harvested honey from ( about 30kg) had a swarms go off about 2 hrs later. It happens, but not often.
Title: Re: Swarm dates for Qld
Post by: BeeMaster2 on December 13, 2018, 12:45:39 am
The bees had already made the decision to swarm so they swarmed anyway.
Jim
Title: Re: Swarm dates for Qld
Post by: max2 on December 13, 2018, 03:15:47 am
Correct Jim.
It also shows that it is not true that they take 50% of the honey whem they swarm..
This hive consists of a full depth, 10 frame brood box, a queen excluder and a FD super plus a 1/2 super.
This season it has yielded 56 FD and 56 1/2 frames of honey plus a nuc plus this swarm.
Sad to lose the queen.
Mind you  , it was at times a rather cranky hive. It will be interesting to see what turns up in a few weeks when the new off-spring start working.
Title: Re: Swarm dates for Qld
Post by: BeeMaster2 on December 13, 2018, 02:02:38 pm
Max,
You never know what they will end up being. My father in law?s first hive was about 20 years old when he gave all of his hives to a college. My father gave him that hive, actually a swarm and told him it would be mean. I have no idea how many queens that hive had but it was always a mean hive and always his biggest.
I had a mean hive that swarmed and when I caught it it tore me up and I just left the swarm box open and let them leave. The hive they left behind was as calm as can bee.
It is a toss up.
Jim
Title: Re: Swarm dates for Qld
Post by: max2 on December 22, 2018, 02:50:59 am
22.12.2018 - another swarm. From a hive I took a few frames out to give them more space. The swarm hoped from a tree - high up - to another tree and then into a bush and I got it. Not a big one and I wonder if there is a queeen.
If it stays - we will see in a few days.
Title: Re: Swarm dates for Qld
Post by: BeeMaster2 on December 22, 2018, 08:39:27 am
If you think the queen might bee missing, add a frame of brood that has eggs. Not only will it anchor the bees to the box, if they are queen less, they will make a new queen.
Jim
Title: Re: Swarm dates for Qld
Post by: max2 on December 22, 2018, 05:31:47 pm
Yes, Jim, we do this here too.
I will check first  if they have a queen - give them a few days to settle.
It is not a big swarm and an extra frame will boost numbers.
It has been a busy time here with bees - made about 70 nuc's  and my wife and I just harvested over 500 kg of honey with very basic equipment and then there is the bottling and labelling. All this fun!
Title: Re: Swarm dates for Qld
Post by: max2 on January 31, 2019, 06:00:25 pm
31. Jan - picked up a very small swarm. They often don't make it but I will give it a couple of frames with brood and give it a chance.
Title: Re: Swarm dates for Qld
Post by: Bee North on March 02, 2019, 01:51:08 am
Hi Max, or Bill or anyone from QLD!

New Bee here, in my second year. 3 Hives.

I have been watching this thread closely as I am in North QLD.

Just into my second year and I had one of my hives swarm end of December and another that wanted to swarm (lots of queen cells) which I split in the rain late January. Both my "main" hives are going strong again, unfortunatly the split isnt queen right. I gave it all the capped cells and 5 frames of brood, honey etc (Over a month no sign of queen or eggs) ....Im on a waiting list for a queen next week, i gave them another frame with capped brood and eggs all the same just in case!

I know (from what I have read) that they can be triggered to go any time of year but.... is it safe to say that swarming has eased off for the year? There hasnt been any swarm posts for a while?

Cheers
Adam
Title: Re: Swarm dates for Qld
Post by: Bamboo on March 02, 2019, 02:46:12 am
Welcome Adam
I am a fair way south of you and Bill would be your go to guy as far as conditions up there. Unlikely to swarm now certainly not down here on SS Coast.
I assume you did a walkaway split on your hive that had all the queen cells? Did you transfer any qcs ? I have found when I split a hive and usually I'll take a couple of splits, I put the splits where the old hive was and move the queen rite hive to a new position in the apiary at least 4m or so away from it's original position more if you can. That way you get a lot of bees returning to the new splits. It is really important when you are doing your split that you find a frame with day old or so eggs, any older and they won't raise a queen. I don't transfer any frames that might have qcs on them as I can check and see if they are raising their own when I spot a new qc. Once they have  the qc I just leave them alone and come back in a month by that time you should see eggs and brood.
With all the rain you have had there is always the possibility that she was delayed in her mating flight and therefore might not be on schedule plus new queens are sometimes very shy and hard to find. I would have another look this week you might just have a laying queen. If not you have always got the one coming.
Good Luck
Mark
Title: Re: Swarm dates for Qld
Post by: Bee North on March 02, 2019, 04:09:34 am
Hi Mark
Thanks so much for your quick response and splitting information!

Regarding the split, I sort of did the opposite. I couldnt find the queen as the day was pretty miserable, the hive was packed, and the bees...well lets say not entirly happy with me! So I shook them all down. Put 5 full frames of brood above the excluder and split them off the following day with all the queen cells (4, I think). I moved them a few metres away and left the original hive and queen in place. She got the forages.

A bit more to the story...Im not home. Im currently studying in Perth for a year and its hard being away from my girls - its killing me... Miss my wife and kids too of course!!

Good news and thank god i have a fellow beek keeping an eye on the girls for me. He is more experienced than me and did the inspection yesterday and found my original hive going gangbusters full of brood and full of uncapped honey. My second hive is the same. My third hive, the split is struggling. He took a frame of brood from the strong hive and gave it to the possibly queenless hive.

So your post  "Unlikely to swarm now certainly not down here on SS Coast" has put a smile on my dile. Its been a big learning curve.

So between the two of us we will see to the girls needs and if the queen arrives next week and the hive is queen right...well I have an empty nuc in the shed!

Lucky I have plenty of space because when I signed up with hive number one just over a year ago I was not aware how quickly they multiplied!

Cheers
Adam

Title: Re: Swarm dates for Qld
Post by: Bamboo on March 02, 2019, 05:01:27 am
Hi Adam
Yeah know what it is like being away from home, have done a fair bit of travelling myself in the past and still do. No matter what you do when you are home as soon as you are far enough away not to be able to help, something goes wrong...water pump breaks down, septic overflows, water heater cooks itself..been there done that!! :smile:
 
Great that you have another beek taking care of things for you.

Had a situation bit the same a few weeks back, had a split that that just wasn't doing what it should i.e no queen no brood or eggs. Added a couple more frames of brood as a last ditch effort and checked a couple of weeks later to see if maybe I had just missed her, but still no eggs or brood. Cranky as so figured no queen.

So marked it down to combine with one of the other hives. Didn't get back to it for a week so had some newspaper ready to combine and lifted the lid and what a nice surprise...eggs and capped brood, shut it up and now lots of activity plus they have calmed down! So she must have been there the time before and I missed her. The thing is with splits I don't search for the queen per se  just a quick scan of frames, if eggs and capped brood, she must be there so shut them up quickly and let them get on with it. I try not to disturb splits till they need to go into a full size box.

Flow is slowing down here as it has been very dry although we did get 10mm last night so might get a bit of a kick on.

Hope it all works out well for you.
Cheers
Mark
Title: Re: Swarm dates for Qld
Post by: Bee North on March 02, 2019, 05:44:48 am
Thanks Mate.
Title: Re: Swarm dates for Qld
Post by: eltalia on March 02, 2019, 06:14:16 pm
Hi Max, or Bill or anyone from QLD!

New Bee here, in my second year. 3 hives.

I know (from what I have read) that they can be triggered to go any time of year but.... is it safe
to say that swarming has eased off for the year? There hasnt been any swarm posts for a while?

Cheers
Adam

Mornin' Adam.
Bit of an ask doing b'kpn by remote so I'd go with what the b'kp onsite
is up to as weather here whilst being the best of Wets for many a year
she is a bit of a dingo's breakfast foraging wise - migratory operators
would be having a field day, no worries.
If you not into caging the queen intermittantly over the Wet then consider
reducing a full width entrance to 4.5mm high in December, early Janurary
(normal year) as that sends a message which deters the bees from
absconding - an action more common than swarming as such during or
 immediately following long periods of rain.

Yes, the window for swarms built to Replicate is well past but as you found
in Janurary they'll use that option (or abscond) where there is a local problem
with the hivebody... it can be a simple as being offkilter allowing water to
lay about on the bottomboard.
One small help is to pick your day at this time of year if you're East of the Range,
working any strain in overcast fine conditions isn't going to go well.
West owns more frequent and longer windows but same applies as it's also a
bit chilly for them to own a happy disposition.

Gotta ask what is it you're studying JCU isn't offering?

Cheers.

Bill
-- 
https://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/australiaallover/
Title: Re: Swarm dates for Qld
Post by: Bee North on March 02, 2019, 06:52:53 pm
Hi Bill,
Thanks for all that, I was hoping to get a bite from you!

That wet period.... there was definitely a connection there for me this season for sure!! I think them being so congested during the period helps trigger them. Do you cage yours in during the wet? I am already dreading next year.

Im using NUPLAS hives as I thought living in the rainforest (Kuranda) plastic may help (rot/termites). They seal up very well and I have them on metal stands that I welded up and concreteed into the ground so they are well secure, high, and as dry as I can get them. They have slotted bottom boards. I have found they do warp a little making the frames tight which has become a bit of a pain.

I will be home for a bit in September and then finish the course mid December. I cant expect my fellow beek to spend all his spare time at mine though.

Mate I wish JCU offed my course but I am a mariner. I am currently doing my final year of study for my Master Unlimited qualification (Master Class 1)....so very few options: Fremantle, AMC (Tasmania) or Newcastle.

We do have a college in Cairns, complete with state of the art Simulator and everything else we need. When it was set up a number of years ago the original plan was to start with offering the smaller domestic qualifications and work up from there, hence the high standard of equipment. But with the funding required, and the Australian shipping industry downturn etc....They still only offer the domestic qualifications and I'm in Perth!

Cheers
Adam


Title: Re: Swarm dates for Qld
Post by: eltalia on March 03, 2019, 06:19:52 am
Hi Bill,
Thanks for all that, I was hoping to get a bite from you!


Yeh well like us FNQ'rs are genourous with our time, to a fault even. heh.

Quote

That wet period.... there was definitely a connection there for me this season for sure!! I think them
 being so congested during the period helps trigger them. Do you cage yours in during the wet?
I am already dreading next year.

Seen plenty of Wets like this one just not of late, well not a monsoon so persistent. Having been raised
on the coast amongst the 'cane those lessons amongst b'kpn came around every year pretty much.
So no, caging happens as part of numbers reduction in late October through November then replaced
by entrance restrictors (full width @4.5mm high) going on maybe the week before Xmas.
 They get the message.
2018 caught us out with bushfires raging and then early rains with not enough of a break to get across
creeks to the outyard before the monsoon cone along, so the queens were still caged with the bees
 subsequently digging them free. None had absconded though when we were able to get there a few
weeks ago now, a lucky break for us.
Cage and then restrict is standard stuff for us, and I am convinced many others doing a true winter
which is just another type of dearth with clustering, no different really to a prolonged Wet like this one.

Your setup for Karanda reads as just the thing, watch the greenants as those buggers can hone in on
a whim then leave them alone for months. A solid attack over a couple of days will see the bees pingoff.
Can't offer any pointers on poly boxes as whilst I know plenty c'mrcls use them still today we only ever
 ran standard FD in wood. Retirement has seen us play with a few new (to us) concepts settling for long
langs (LLTBH) as cutcomb is where we are headed. The two Lang stacks are at the outyard and mainly
for a resource in barrier protection in case the home colonys do go titsup with disease...something that
 is getting more likely as each year passes by.

You're aiming high with a MMC-1, Adam... and likely much more time away when you have it - good
money though these days. Our company ran an engineering contract with ASL (Fremantle) on the east
coast and across to Broome including the Gulf so with lots of sea-time I know enough to be a dangerous
bloke at the wheel in shallow waters. The excuberance of youth at the expense of wisdom. heh.
Good Luck with the desk work now.

Cheers.


Bill
Title: Re: Swarm dates for Qld
Post by: Bee North on March 03, 2019, 06:15:02 pm
Thanks for your time Bill!

Awsome...so location specific (which is exactly what I was missing). I had never even heard of numbers reduction strategies apart from splitting...most seem to be chasing number production!

Im happy to hear your girls were all ok. Great news!

This formum is so good for my procrastinating...back to the desk!

Cheers again.
Adam

Title: Re: Swarm dates for Qld
Post by: eltalia on March 04, 2019, 06:17:05 am

I had never even heard of numbers reduction strategies apart from splitting...most seem to
 be chasing number production!

Tis all relevent to whatever your own thing is with b'keeping Adam, like pretty much
around the urbanised FNQ it can be "set an' forget" with attention to P&D inspections only
and swarm prevention.
Yet if studying how to manage (push) them to pollinate, or produce honey, then it *is* a
case of developing strategies. Building numbers to critical mass for "the season" - whilst
controlling swarming -  to then reduce numbers for the dearth is all in the mix, and sorts
the hopefulls from the doers.
I am reasonably certain posts have been made on these topics, maybe searching
"critical mass" will shed some insight if that too is an unfamiliar term?

No problem in providing what I can Adam, happy to.

Cheers.

Bill.
Title: Re: Swarm dates for Qld
Post by: max2 on March 07, 2019, 01:19:42 am
Good to see you up and running Bill!
I have been away for nearly 3 weeks and when I got home there was no internet.
Looks like it is OK now, thanks to a new modem
Title: Re: Swarm dates for Qld
Post by: Bee North on August 02, 2019, 09:17:40 pm
And so it begins!

My neighbour (literally Bill) had his strongest hive swarm on Thursday!

We have had patchy weather with more sun than rain, the girls are working hard when the suns out and as previously mentioned cadaghi is in flower and lots more i believe.

One would think this is a bit early though...They had room in the supers (2 x) , but as i said a very strong hive.

Adam
Title: Re: Swarm dates for Qld
Post by: Bamboo on August 02, 2019, 11:55:22 pm
Bees doing what they do.
But like you say seems early. But with all the warmer weather, hottest July etc, hard to pin seasons down now...times is changing.
Title: Re: Swarm dates for Qld
Post by: Bee North on August 03, 2019, 12:30:58 am
Hi Mark

.... "times is changing" too true!

One has to go with a bit of instinct i think.

Before i left my girls went from sleepy to full throttle in the brood department and bells started ringing.

So i ordered a number of queens for one replacement and a few splits when i get back home (end of September)to slow them down a bit.

My mate will keep an eye on them until then and super as required. Hopefully they stay put until then.

Rgds
Adam
Title: Re: Swarm dates for Qld
Post by: eltalia on August 03, 2019, 08:25:06 pm
And so it begins!

My neighbour (literally Bill) had his strongest hive swarm on Thursday!

We have had patchy weather with more sun than rain, the girls are working hard when the suns out and as previously mentioned cadaghi is in flower and lots more i believe.

One would think this is a bit early though...They had room in the supers (2 x) , but as i said a very strong hive.

Adam
I'm off to check the outyard this arvo buuut given the overcast weather last week
I doubt there'll be more to do than look about and maybe pull a few kilos.

Just dropping in to say if any of our little group get a swarm issue it is news!
This as we all share the philosophy swarms and the work bees put into them
are wasted energy better put to growth and/or recovery from dearth.
All bees will get on the swarm wagon once conditions become favourable.
Us, the b'keep, only waking up to it once QCs are formed...IF we get to see
them, capped.

Cheers...

Bill
Title: Re: Swarm dates for Qld
Post by: Bee North on August 10, 2019, 11:57:39 pm
Times are Changing!

Ok, so there is a bit more to add...Cairns is swarming.

My neighbour who's hive swarmed just lost another one. He went to our bee club meeting last weekend and everyone is aparently losing swarms.. but its winter.

He inspected my hives today, as I am still away at school:

Out of my three hives two are ding well, but the one i supered only 3 weeks ago is interesting. He couldnt find the queen and there are two capped queen cells.

He said the hive is full of drones disproportionally, with a lot more drone brood to come.

Three weeks ago that hive was doing beautifully. The numbers were expanding rapidly and I threw a super on it just as the frames were covered with bees. The brood pattern was exceptional, i took a frame and gave it to weakest hive then. The pattern was solid, not patchy at all.

This queen was home raised last Febuary after it swarmed.

I dont know if its a supersedure, if the hive swarmed or is about to. He will check on them in a couple of weeks time. Doesnt two cells "usually" indicate supersedure over swarming? He couldnt find her though and I marked her!

Its as if after all the rain we had over the last 12 months, the girls are taking the first oportunity to swarm. Generally speaking the hives are not over crowded, they are still low on strores and its still winter! This is their first snif of a flow since before christmas.

Cheers
Adam


 

Title: Re: Swarm dates for Qld
Post by: eltalia on August 11, 2019, 04:38:53 am
Adam....maaate you gotta move frames around (broodnest), making space isn't
good enough. Into mine today and off up to the outyard tomorrow..
Remember too we run QRs at this time, for exactly the initiate swarming on
forage coming in strong.
See my other post on dud queens as I didn't see this post earlier.

Cheers...

Bill
Title: Re: Swarm dates for Qld
Post by: Bee North on August 11, 2019, 05:14:44 am
Thanks for the posts Bill

If only I was home!!!

.....so frustrating. Its not ideal being away this time of year and you can only ask so much of others regarding management.

What else to say?

Rgds
Adam

 







 
Title: Re: Swarm dates for Qld
Post by: max2 on October 03, 2019, 01:39:04 pm
4.10. 2019 - I hear of large swarms around maleny. We are usually a week or so behind. Time to check again the hives.
Title: Re: Swarm dates for Qld
Post by: max2 on October 15, 2019, 04:06:09 am
15.10. - I went to see a beekeeping mate of mine near Glasshouse and there were two little swarms in his yard."Not worth catching"  we both said.

I got home and there was a small swarms - not much bigger - just 5 m from my door...so I put it in a little box. Probably "not worth the effort"  :embarassed:
Title: Re: Swarm dates for Qld
Post by: max2 on November 23, 2019, 03:44:10 pm
We had a large swarm here yesterday. The first proper swarms for the season.
Not sure what made them take off - dry as a bone, low humidity and not much to forage.
I put out some trap hives - we shall see if they work...
Title: Re: Swarm dates for Qld
Post by: Bamboo on November 25, 2019, 05:53:30 am
From one of your hives Max?
Title: Re: Swarm dates for Qld
Post by: max2 on November 25, 2019, 07:18:06 am
very likley...

We took some more honey off today and one looked pretty empty
Title: Re: Swarm dates for Qld
Post by: Bamboo on November 25, 2019, 07:33:16 am
Did you catch it?
Title: Re: Swarm dates for Qld
Post by: max2 on November 25, 2019, 10:52:40 am
sadly no - it was very high up in a tree. A large one...I even set out a couple of trap hives.
Title: Re: Swarm dates for Qld
Post by: Bamboo on November 26, 2019, 02:38:59 am
Oh dear never mind. Had one high up in a tree just next to the apiary last year. First time in my life I have seen a swarm land. I was in the apiary and wondered what all the noise was and looked up and there it was all just coming together. Too high to get and they moved on within an hour or so. Wasn't from mine so was happy about that.
Title: Re: Swarm dates for Qld
Post by: max2 on August 18, 2020, 07:13:57 pm
Just had a look at the swarm dates in previous years and noticed that in 2018 the first swarm was recorded on the 24. July!

In other years late August seems quite common for swarms.
No signs of Drones here as yet but a bloke who keeps bees on the coast  told me yesterday that he opened a lid and a swarm of drones excaped - the queen had been laying above the excluder.
Title: Re: Swarm dates for Qld
Post by: felmo1 on August 21, 2020, 07:50:30 am
Here over the otherside of the range drones have been obvious gor the last 3 weeks or so.  Drone cells on a couple of frames in the majority of hives.  Bee numbers are certainly increacing but not the honey stores.  Still waiting for a good nectar source before I become over cautious with swarming.
Alan
Title: Re: Swarm dates for Qld
Post by: max2 on September 19, 2020, 09:02:08 pm
19. 9.2020 - Two " big " swarms in maleny 4552
Title: Re: Swarm dates for Qld
Post by: Bee North on September 20, 2020, 03:16:10 am
Went to a club meeting last Saturday. Two members have had their bees swarm around the Cairns area..and so it begins!
Title: Re: Swarm dates for Qld
Post by: max2 on October 05, 2020, 07:02:48 pm
5. 10. 2020 - a swarm " bigger then a football" up Ahern's road
Title: Re: Swarm dates for Qld
Post by: max2 on January 01, 2021, 11:56:43 pm
Looks like the swarm season is pretty well over here.
I had one swarm as far as I know. Making splits does prevent swarms realy well.

My mate in Witta had pretty well every one of his hives swarm at least one time and my mate up the valley had about 50% of his hives swarm. I don't mind swarms if you can catch them but mine seem to pick tall gums.
Trap hives did not work for me this year.
Title: Re: Swarm dates for Qld
Post by: max2 on February 06, 2021, 09:41:53 pm
7. 2. 2021 - Conondale.
Just went to one of my yards to move a nuc into a 10 frames box.
Right next to me a hive which was a nuc just a few months ago took off. Biggest swarm of the season - sadly settled too high for me to catch it.
I have had some exceptional queens this year - amazing egg producers- and it showed the difference between a good queen and an amazing queen.
Lost this one

Title: Re: Swarm dates for Qld
Post by: max2 on March 19, 2021, 01:43:27 am
We had a number of cloudy and wet days...and then this morning this burst of bright sun.
I could not believe to see a small swarm take off.
I'm pretty sure they had no queens and went back home.
Title: Re: Swarm dates for Qld
Post by: Bee North on March 19, 2021, 07:19:39 pm
Hi Max
That is what happens up here through the wet...even now. After prolonged periods of rain being all cooped up they swarm on the first clear day.
Aparently in this case swarming is triggered due to the fact that few foragers are leaving the hive and they feel congested. Also the rain brings with it flows and pollen.
I'm still managing swarming up here. I dont have a swarm season. I only get a swarm break over winter and that's about it.
On the up side it's perfect for raising queens!
Title: Re: Swarm dates for Qld
Post by: max2 on August 30, 2021, 08:18:20 am
30. 8. 21 - First swarm here for the season. I missed it - too high for my old body.
Title: Re: Swarm dates for Qld
Post by: Bee North on August 31, 2021, 01:38:06 am
I'm guessing you have plenty of drones then Max...time to split yet?
My hives are still building up in my home yard. Only raising a few token drones nowhere near swarming yet which is odd!
My other yard is getting closer though.
Title: Re: Swarm dates for Qld
Post by: Bee North on August 31, 2021, 01:40:41 am
Ok...just read your other post. Keep us up to date on the splits!
Title: Re: Swarm dates for Qld
Post by: max2 on September 04, 2021, 04:57:30 am
4. September - just back from hiving a swarm in my village of Crystal Waters.
About 8 feet up but not a big issue.
We will see if the stay.
They are in a quarntine area of the yard and I will keep an eye on them
Title: Re: Swarm dates for Qld
Post by: Bee North on September 04, 2021, 10:39:49 pm
It's all happening down there Max!
Title: Re: Swarm dates for Qld
Post by: max2 on September 05, 2021, 06:45:08 am
I had another call for a swarm today.
It landed less then 5 m from the one I hived yesterday. This one is a big one - I only had a 5 frame nuc with me and they are shoulder to shoulder.
I have to put them into a bigger box ASAP

Title: Re: Swarm dates for Qld
Post by: BeeMaster2 on September 05, 2021, 10:43:15 am
I hop you caged the queen. If not, they will probably leave.
Jim Altmiller
Title: Re: Swarm dates for Qld
Post by: max2 on September 05, 2021, 01:08:07 pm
In over 46 years of hiving swarms I have never yet seen the queen in a swarm.
I shake the swarm into a large garbage bin and then pour the lot into the hive.
I was on my knees ( again!) looking for the queen on the white sheet I placed under the swarm to collect any stranglers.
I have found that if I hive a swarm around mid-afternoon I have about an 80% success rate.
Here is hoping!
Title: Re: Swarm dates for Qld
Post by: Ben Framed on September 05, 2021, 02:33:58 pm
Max I posted a topic back in May of this year titled "Dissecting a Swarm" Our friend OldBeavo suggested I might have to much time on my hands.  :shocked: :grin: lol.

Just the same this procedure is fun and interesting when time allows. I thought you might be interested in case you missed it. :grin:  If you use the search engine simply type in "Dissecting  Swarm" The search engine does not accept single letter words such as (a).

Phillip
Title: Re: Swarm dates for Qld
Post by: max2 on September 07, 2021, 07:42:27 am
I had a look at the article - interesting. I need a bit of time for this.
Meanwhile...I moved the swarm from Sunday into a 10 frame super. They had drawn most of the 5 frames

Title: Re: Swarm dates for Qld
Post by: max2 on September 10, 2021, 04:46:57 am
A lady visited and told me she had " multiple swarms"  from the same hive - Witta area 4552
Title: Re: Swarm dates for Qld
Post by: Beelab on September 15, 2021, 05:11:41 am
Boxed a medium size swarm 2 days ago. They left on the same day.
Today had another medium sized swarm, and because bees were flying around it excitedly, I thought they are communicating something and I was waiting to see what they?ll do.

Mind you, it was 6.30am and 10C in a cold snap.
However, during the morning, they settled themselves in the box the other swarm had left, just 2m away from the mother hive. Lucky I didn?t have time to clear the box away.

I suspect one of my hives in that vicinity is throwing multiple swarms with virgin queens.
Reluctant to open it up, so not to disturb things.

In a primary big swarm, I always find the queen. Plus often a couple of virgins.
In subsequent virgin swarms, I hardly ever find the queen.

I once had a big swarm that divided to settle on separate branches on the same tree.

Isn?t swarm season exciting?
I was away up North Queensland a little longer than planned due to NSW lockdown. So my swarm control measures are a little behind for my 5 apiaries. Seeing the consequences now.
Title: Re: Swarm dates for Qld
Post by: max2 on August 26, 2022, 07:07:40 pm
27. August - Firts swarm here for the season. Nice one at Gavin's place - about 1.2m up on a fence post
Title: Re: Swarm dates for Qld
Post by: max2 on October 11, 2022, 05:09:43 am
10.10 - a swarm near maleny ( in rainy, foggy weather)

11.10 - a nice swarm just up the road 770 Ahern's rd
Title: Re: Swarm dates for Qld
Post by: Stuart Coyle on October 28, 2022, 05:02:39 pm
Yesterday afternoon had a swarm in Jindalee. Not my bees, probably the guy down the road.
Title: Re: Swarm dates for Qld
Post by: max2 on November 20, 2023, 12:06:44 am
So much for a quiet morning!
It has been raining non stop, not heavy but lovely and wet....and i got  a swarm call.

Not a huge swarm but a reasonable size hanging off a barb wire fence behind Lantana  - soaking wet.

I had a bit of an issue getting a box under it but i think I got most of the bees.
We shall see later today on dark if got the queen or not.

Title: Re: Swarm dates for Qld
Post by: max2 on February 12, 2024, 06:18:38 pm
There have been reports of very large swarms.
It appears that they rain kept the bees in the hive and creating  accommodation issues.
Nice to catch a couple of these.