Trevor Gillbanks 6,805 Posted September 30 Share Posted September 30 (edited) It is that time of the year again. I have heard that the first swarms have been reported in Northland and Auckland. I got a call about May this year for a cut out that was required at Massey University in Palmerston North. I checked it out and decided that we would leave it alone until spring. This is the false wall that the swarm was behind. This is the thermal image I took with my phone to see where the bees were. I was expecting most of the bees to be in the lower right corner. This was mostly true as the bees were just starting to move up the old comb. Today was removal day and I was quite surprised with what we found when I pulled the wall panelling off. Bees were pretty much where I expected. Lots of DWV and plenty of brood which allowed me to do an AFB check. I am 95% sure they are clean. Varroa treatments will go in tomorrow and I will give them a feed as they are a bit low on stores. Today was removal day and I was quite surprised with what we found when I pulled the wall panelling off. Bees were pretty much where I expected. Lots of DWV and plenty of brood which allowed me to do an AFB check. I am 95% sure they are clean. Varroa treatments will go in tomorrow. Edited September 30 by Trevor Gillbanks 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kakapo 0 Posted October 2 Share Posted October 2 Burnside Christchurch here. One of my hives swarmed three weeks ago. Couldn’t believe it. Fortunately straight into the one hive that didn’t survive the winter. Split the remainder into four Nucs. Couple of capped swarm cells in each. now I have way too many hives for a 409 sql section ... 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Trevor Gillbanks 6,805 Posted October 2 Author Share Posted October 2 Then re join them. Pick the best queens and kill the ones you don't want. Newspaper joint will work great. 3 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
StephenP 48 Posted October 2 Share Posted October 2 On 30/09/2020 at 6:18 PM, Trevor Gillbanks said: It is that time of the year again. I have heard that the first swarms have been reported in Northland and Auckland. A large swarm turned up at my place last weekend. I'm in Hamilton. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Trevor Gillbanks 6,805 Posted October 2 Author Share Posted October 2 Just now, StephenP said: A large swarm turned up at my place last weekend. I'm in Hamilton. What happened to the photos that you were meant to take and post on here 1 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
StephenP 48 Posted October 2 Share Posted October 2 1 hour ago, StephenP said: A large swarm turned up at my place last weekend. I'm in Hamilton. 1 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Popular Post Stoney 1,566 Posted October 3 Popular Post Share Posted October 3 This is a rather large cut out from a year or so back, was another one same size at the other end of the building, the Manuka farmer mention he’d seen the “odd”bee going into the wall.. was a little surprised as I peeled off the weatherboard one by one and it kept going.. really wanted the queens as he said they’d been there for 3 or 4 yrs but never found them.. was only the fact he wanted to knock it down he called us in. Brood was really clean. This was chocked out with Manuka honey he was stoked with the comb. 9 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
john berry 5,583 Posted October 3 Share Posted October 3 I hear lots of stories about feral hives that have been there for years but they always turn out to have died of varoa and then been replaced almost straight away by a new swarm. Bees are quite selective about the cavities they use so they tend to go back time and again to the same spot and having wax in their already makes it even more desirable. 1 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dansar 5,491 Posted October 5 Share Posted October 5 Heading early tomorrow morning to collect this one. South Waikato. just in time to stock some mini mating nucs. 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bighands 1,055 Posted October 5 Share Posted October 5 I cut out swarm cells here on the West Coast and killed a virgin I saw running around.A bit early I thought. This was today Quote Link to post Share on other sites
YTB8TA270 57 Posted October 5 Share Posted October 5 12 hours ago, Bighands said: I cut out swarm cells here on the West Coast and killed a virgin I saw running around.A bit early I thought. This was today I've been cutting out swarm cells for the past 3 weeks, double brood boxes full of bees. Going through them every 10 days or so to check. Year old queens and i dont want more hives. Sure is a challenge at this time of year. Had to feed one yesterday that was good 10 days ago? Lucky im on acc and can get into them when the sun breaks through. Which lately is about every 10 days. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bighands 1,055 Posted October 5 Share Posted October 5 26 minutes ago, YTB8TA270 said: Which lately is about every 10 days Lucky devil, here in the valley it is every 14 days Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Grant 4,277 Posted October 5 Share Posted October 5 Those big black bees are at Quote Link to post Share on other sites
YTB8TA270 57 Posted October 5 Share Posted October 5 21 minutes ago, Bighands said: Lucky devil, here in the valley it is every 14 days Im told it will get better? Lucky coast bees fly in the rain at 10degC huh. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mischief 139 Posted October 8 Share Posted October 8 haha so do mine. The lowest temp I recorded them flying at was early morning 7.5C...I went back to bed Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Popular Post Adam O'Sullivan 132 Posted October 9 Popular Post Share Posted October 9 (edited) A swarm at one of my sites today. The hive it came from still had a large population. Dannevirke, Manawatu. Edited October 9 by Adam O'Sullivan 5 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dansar 5,491 Posted October 13 Share Posted October 13 On 9/10/2020 at 7:24 PM, Adam O'Sullivan said: A swarm at one of my sites today. The hive it came from still had a large population. Dannevirke, Manawatu. Dam, I’ll be there on Thursday to collect it. Should be cold and wet enough for them to still be there 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Popular Post dansar 5,491 Posted October 13 Popular Post Share Posted October 13 Just collected this swarm. I was notified about it late last night but could not go out to get it. With the heavy rain overnight and today they hadn’t moved. Result is two FD boxes of bees. Interestingly I am the only beekeeper who’s had hives down the end of this road which backs on to native Bush. I haven’t had them there for a couple of years so I am guessing it is from swarmed stock from my hives. property owners confirm there are no hives On their land nor on other property. My apiary is about 6km back up the road. 5 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Grant 4,277 Posted October 13 Share Posted October 13 Wow that's a monster Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Popular Post Trevor Gillbanks 6,805 Posted October 13 Author Popular Post Share Posted October 13 I just collected my first swarm for 2020. Good size. 4 plus Kg of bees. 6 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Trevor Gillbanks 6,805 Posted October 23 Author Share Posted October 23 2 more swarms today. I could not get a photo of one as it was in an Ivy plant on a fence. Thanks goodness for the bee vac. The second was in a camilia street tree 1.5 m high. Another simple job for the bee vac. Very pretty surrounded with flowers. Both swarms around the 2 kg mark. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Maggie James 877 Posted October 23 Share Posted October 23 On 13/10/2020 at 5:44 PM, dansar said: haven’t had them there for a couple of years so I am guessing it is from swarmed stock from my hives. Was there a queen in each division? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Trevor Gillbanks 6,805 Posted October 23 Author Share Posted October 23 1 hour ago, Maggie James said: Was there a queen in each division? They were about 10 km apart, so not related. I will know in about 3 days when I check them if they have a queen each. I believe they will. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Trevor Gillbanks 6,805 Posted October 24 Author Share Posted October 24 (edited) 2 swarms again today. 20 km apart. 1 @ 2.5 kg 1 @ 4.5 kg. Nice and easy captures. 2 kgs 4 .5 kg. 2.5 m up a small totara tree. Edited October 24 by Trevor Gillbanks 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Maru Hoani 639 Posted October 24 Share Posted October 24 I've probly caught 10 swarms so far, the biggest was the size of a 20L bucket 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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