Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => HONEYBEE REMOVAL => Topic started by: duck on April 21, 2012, 05:41:25 pm

Title: rooftop swarm
Post by: duck on April 21, 2012, 05:41:25 pm
ok, homeowner sent me a pic. so set the nuc box on the ladder and sweep em with a broom off into the box? or what?

(http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a311/Ducksmasher/IMG_0639.jpg)
Title: Re: rooftop swarm
Post by: Shawn on April 21, 2012, 06:22:55 pm
I think sweeping you might chance injuring the queen. I would say vac if you had one. WHy cant you put the nuc with a touch of lemon grass in it right beside them on the roof?
Title: Re: rooftop swarm
Post by: rbinhood on April 21, 2012, 06:56:25 pm
There's probably more bees down in the gutter, I have see swarms like this with the majority of the bees would be down inside.  Vac is the best way to go.
Title: Re: rooftop swarm
Post by: Robo on April 21, 2012, 07:26:01 pm
Either that is a tiny secondary or tertiary swarm or they have started to move into the soffit or wall and the majority of them are now inside.  If it is a tiny entrance hole,  it can take hours for the whole swarm to move in.
Title: Re: rooftop swarm
Post by: Robo on April 21, 2012, 07:27:58 pm
Or on second look,  is that a pile of bees  or leaves on the shingles?   If that is the swarm, I would set a nuc box right by them and let them walk in.     I've never seen a swarm "ON" a roof.
Title: Re: rooftop swarm
Post by: schawee on April 21, 2012, 08:11:00 pm
im with robo, place a nuc with brood comb( if you have some) next to them.they will march right in.
Title: Re: rooftop swarm
Post by: duck on April 21, 2012, 10:40:24 pm
when I got there that pile on the roof had doubled and the gutter ball moved up with the rest..  put a box down and got a few stings in the face. no march.. they were upset as I figure the live oak above the roof was most likely where they came from.  we had 60 mph gusts move through yesterday evening and they probly got blown down. they werent happy at all.  suited up and sucked 3 full buckets of bees up.  this is the biggest swarm ive seen yet.  it filled a deep with bees, i put a medium on top to give them some room. dang mang.

(http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a311/Ducksmasher/2012-04-21_18-03-26_333.jpg)
Title: Re: rooftop swarm
Post by: G3farms on April 22, 2012, 03:32:20 am
That is a big swarm for sure, ezy pzy of a catch.

The bee vac works wonders for jobs like that.
Title: Re: rooftop swarm
Post by: Shawn on April 22, 2012, 09:22:37 pm
That is a big swarm. Great photo
Title: Re: rooftop swarm
Post by: AllenF on April 22, 2012, 09:45:10 pm
Second the vac.    But good looking swarm.   Never seen them spread out on a roof like that before.