Post date: Apr 28, 2014 7:17:35 PM

Swarm catch without my usual tools!

I was eating Sunday lunch with the family when I received a swarm call. I was certainly happy to come out and get the bees but I rode the motorcycle to church and didn't have any of my normal honeybee gear on me. I had to improvise. Out in the garage I found an empty moving box. Cut a little hive entrance in the bottom and drove over to the swarm with my father-in-law. I called before leaving to let them know I'd be there in 10 minutes. Well it was only 7 minutes away. We arrived and within a couple minutes I found it and hived it. When they came out to greet me the bees were orienting to their new hive box! 

We chatted for a bit about honeybees and what a sight is to behold a swarm in progress. It is quite impressive indeed. Everyone always wants to know why do honeybees swarm? I liked the theory their seven year old son had, "I think I caused it when I shot my bow and arrow in the direction of that tree over there." It's true you don't want to harass the bees! But I explained most of the time swarming is just their normal reproductive instinct. 

When I returned after sundown to pick up the swarm the family was out on the driveway enjoying the nice weather on their lawn chairs to watch me do my thing and enjoy some more honeybee chit chat. I guess it's counter-intuitive to have this ominous buzzing hurricane of stinger carrying insects descend on your yard only to realize they were never trying to hurt anyone. They were just looking for a new home. This colony is now in a proper hive setup in my apiary. I can't wait to see what interesting genetics this colony exhibits this year!