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Author Topic: Dissecting a Swarm  (Read 5220 times)

Offline 2Sox

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Re: Dissecting a Swarm
« Reply #20 on: May 27, 2021, 11:10:27 am »
GREAT original post, Ben. Thanks. Love the idea of a pool pole! I?ve been using two pieces of PVC pipe that fit into each other that can telescope, but it?s very heavy. The weight of a pool pole is about 1.5 pounds and that makes a difference! I?m going to get one.

A suggestion for when you shake the bees out on the ground: I use an old polyester shower curtain liner on the ground under any swarm catch I go to.  If a bunch falls on the ground it?s easier for them to take off or I just shake them into the air.
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"Good will is the desire to have something else stronger and more beautiful for this desire makes oneself stronger and more beautiful." - Eli Siegel, American educator, poet, founder of Aesthetic Realism

Offline Ben Framed

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Re: Dissecting a Swarm
« Reply #21 on: May 27, 2021, 04:32:57 pm »
Thanks 2Sox 😊
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2 Chronicles 7:14
14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Offline Ben Framed

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Re: Dissecting a Swarm
« Reply #22 on: May 27, 2021, 04:40:01 pm »
Adding, be sure to have a roll of electrical tape handy as well. A few wrap arounds along the pole, here and there securing the hose to the pole, prevents hose/pole separation which can seem to get quite heavy if you have to retrieve your bees 🐝 at an angle. Maybe one every 3 or 4 feet. Quick and easy as the tape is easy to break by hand after a couple wraps and on to the next spot.
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2 Chronicles 7:14
14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Offline 2Sox

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Re: Dissecting a Swarm
« Reply #23 on: May 28, 2021, 09:26:44 am »
Quote from: Ben Framed on May 27, 2021, 04:40:01 pm
Adding, be sure to have a roll of electrical tape handy as well. A few wrap arounds along the pole, here and there securing the hose to the pole, prevents hose/pole separation which can seem to get quite heavy if you have to retrieve your bees 🐝 at an angle. Maybe one every 3 or 4 feet. Quick and easy as the tape is easy to break by hand after a couple wraps and on to the next spot.

Yes, I?m a fan of blue painters tape. Very strong, easy to remove and will not leave a sticky residue
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"Good will is the desire to have something else stronger and more beautiful for this desire makes oneself stronger and more beautiful." - Eli Siegel, American educator, poet, founder of Aesthetic Realism

Offline Ben Framed

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Re: Dissecting a Swarm
« Reply #24 on: May 28, 2021, 09:58:06 am »
Quote from: 2Sox on May 28, 2021, 09:26:44 am
Quote from: Ben Framed on May 27, 2021, 04:40:01 pm
Adding, be sure to have a roll of electrical tape handy as well. A few wrap arounds along the pole, here and there securing the hose to the pole, prevents hose/pole separation which can seem to get quite heavy if you have to retrieve your bees 🐝 at an angle. Maybe one every 3 or 4 feet. Quick and easy as the tape is easy to break by hand after a couple wraps and on to the next spot.

Yes, I?m a fan of blue painters tape. Very strong, easy to remove and will not leave a sticky residue

Thanks I?ll try it next time!
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2 Chronicles 7:14
14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Offline Ben Framed

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Re: Dissecting a Swarm
« Reply #25 on: March 10, 2022, 02:10:04 pm »
It is getting closer to swarm season in my area. I thought of this topic while discussing Swarm Catching Methods on another topic. I am renewing this discussion for any who may be interested.
 
Phillip
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2 Chronicles 7:14
14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Offline doug494

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Re: Dissecting a Swarm
« Reply #26 on: April 07, 2022, 09:32:24 pm »
If you find multiples can you tell the old queen from the virgin queens?


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Offline BeeMaster2

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Re: Dissecting a Swarm
« Reply #27 on: April 07, 2022, 11:34:42 pm »
Virgin queens have smaller abdomens than mated ones. Normally if there are more than one queen in a swarm, then all of the queens will bee virgins.
The exception is when 2 different hives swarm at the same time and one is a primary and one is a secondary.
Jim Altmiller
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Democracy is 2 wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well armed lamb contesting the vote.
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Offline Ben Framed

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Re: Dissecting a Swarm
« Reply #28 on: April 08, 2022, 12:08:49 am »
Doug it is rewarding and even kind of fun when finding more than one queen. It also helps sharpen our queen spotting skills.

Phillip
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2 Chronicles 7:14
14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Offline BeeMaster2

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Re: Dissecting a Swarm
« Reply #29 on: April 08, 2022, 09:16:12 am »
Here is a picture of a very small swarm that a firefighter friend, Paula, found in a tree in front of the Macclenny firehouse. She was fascinated with it. I told her about the scout bees dancing how they decide where they are going to build their hive. Later that night she took this picture. I told her that I have never seen a queen on a swarm.



Jim Altmiller
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Democracy is 2 wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well armed lamb contesting the vote.
Ben Franklin

Offline doug494

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Re: Dissecting a Swarm
« Reply #30 on: April 08, 2022, 01:37:13 pm »
Quote from: BeeMaster2 on April 07, 2022, 11:34:42 pm
Virgin queens have smaller abdomens than mated ones. Normally if there are more than one queen in a swarm, then all of the queens will bee virgins.
The exception is when 2 different hives swarm at the same time and one is a primary and one is a secondary.
Jim Altmiller
That's what I was wondering.  Since an old queen will slim down for the swarm flight is she distinguishable from a virgin.

But if multiple queens are normally all virgin that is good to know.

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