Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
home. Take pruning shears, to remove stray branches, or to cut the entire branch on
which the swarm is sitting is almost always handy. Have a bee brush along, too.
Swarms that are very high in trees are seldom worth the risk of wobbly ladders and
precarious positions. Safety is paramount here. A 6' (1.8 m) stepladder is as high as you
should go if you're not used to this activity. Even then, you should go only halfway up.
Position the box (with the frames removed) under the swarm, as close to the bottom
of the cluster of bees as possible. Use the top or shelf of the ladder to hold the box if the
bees are that high. Spray the swarm with sugar water several times to keep them from
flying around. This also feeds them if they have been in that location for more that a
couple days, and slows down any defensive activity.
Ideally, you can lower the swarm or raise the box so it actually has some of the
swarm in it. Once everything is secure; you, the ladder, the box, any bystanders, and
the swarm and box are as close as possible; and any stray, small branches are removed,
you're ready. What you're going to do is jerk the branch on which the swarm is posi-
tioned so they are shaken loose and the whole of the clump falls into the box. Some-
where in the clump, with luck, is the queen. Once the bees realize she is present in the
box, they will stay with her.
When the branch is jerked most of the bees will fall, but some—perhaps many—go
airborne. They'll return to the spot on the branch to regroup. If the queen is there, they'll
stay. If not, they'll look for her. Keep the box as close to the original location as pos-
sible. Some bees will miss landing in the box. Have a piece of carpet underneath the
box. It helps so they don't become lost in the grass or other weedy growth.
Once the mass of bees is inside the box with the queen, you'll notice bees at the front
door fanning the here's home pheromone, attracting those bees still in the air or lost.
In short order, almost all the bees will be inside, especially if it's early evening (a
good time to do this, if you can pick the time). Later, you can close the front door, se-
cure the boxes, and head for home. Swarm calls are, however, seldom ideal.
Obtaining swarms, whether your own (yes, yours will one day swarm) or from some
other colony, is seldom predictable. Swarms will cover a fence post, become entangled
in low shrubbery, or cling to the side of a house. All of these locations require that you
brush or push the bees into a container. This puts lots of bees in the air again, in spite
of the sugar syrup. And, while pushing, if one or more get crushed in the mess, there's
alarm pheromone added to the mix.
If swarm calls are in your future, begin by helping someone experienced, if possible.
And you should always be prepared for the unpredictable.
