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In Pursuit of Swarms

Adventures No Ordinary Person Would Relish But Who Thinks We Are Ordinary?

By Ettamarie Peterson

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The Hive That Introduced Me to Bees

  • This hive was in

our barn wall.

  • The day it swarmed a beekeeper came and introduced me to the love of beekeeping.
  • Remember when you go to catch a swarm, you are a Bee Ambassador as he was!

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When You Get That Call

  • Ask if they are really honeybees

In the spring they usually are but I have been lured to bumble bees!

  • Ask where they are - address & city

Then where on the property and how high up and how easy to get to. Ask about the size in relation to a ball.

  • Ask when they arrived.

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Take all answers with a grain of salt!

I now ask if I can have a photo sent to me.

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What to Take With You

  • A ladder or step stool if the people have told you they are high.
  • Two bee suits if you have them and rubber gloves.
  • Two swarm boxes if you think it might be a really giant swarm. One deep box is really better for the big swarms.
  • A large feather or a bee brush.
  • Sugar water in a spray bottle is optional.
  • A tarp or something to use as a drop cloth.
  • A bottle of Fischer’s Bee Quick in case the bees went into a building very recently or go back.
  • Bungee cords & rope for tying the swarm box in the tree.
  • Your cell phone and business cards.
  • Signs and caution tape if going to a public place.

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Before I Learned Better Tricks

  • I thought the bees would fall into the cardboard box in a nice, neat clump!
  • HA! HA!
  • They fooled me!

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Another Idea That Wasn’t So Good

  • I thought using a bucket on a pole would work.
  • The bees didn’t cooperate at all!
  • Scrap that idea!

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Better Idea

  • Use old comb.
  • I attached it to my fruit picker pole because it is can be stretched out and shortened.
  • The bees climb onto the old comb nicely.
  • Be patient.

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  • Best idea – Kaycee is using a swarm catcher that was a water jug. She was 7 at this time in 4-H beekeeping.

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Best Idea

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It is much better to use old comb for those high swarms.

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Some swarms will fool you!

  • This swarm looked like an easy job…..
  • But when I lifted the safety cone up, I discovered it was right on a cow plop and many bees fell into it.
  • It was a huge swarm, and I think the queen did not survive!

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Swarms on the Ground

  • Many times, you will be called to get a “puddle” of bees.
  • If you have one of these boxes with the entrance at the base, it is ideal for this job.
  • Old comb in the box acts like a magnet!

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Angelo’s Trick

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Angelo’s Gadget

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Huge Swarm

  • This is an example of a very tricky spot to get a swarm from.
  • I had to use the old comb trick to get these bees.

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Huge Swarm in February

  • This was hard to judge because it was wrapped around the planter.

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Too Many Bees!

  • I always go back after sundown to bring home the swarm. The queen was in the box but the box was too small! I had to go back the next morning!

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Bees Were Moved

  • I had a huge box called the Hive Butler and put it in the wagon before I transfer the bees into it. It went home with me that evening.

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When Using a Ladder

  • Make sure the ladder is secure!
  • Having an extra suit with you to give to someone to wear will help you get assistance in holding the ladder.

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After You Have the Queen

  • Once you have the queen in the swarm box let the bees join her on their time.
  • Use that rope and/or bungee cord you brought to fasten the swarm box safely up out of the way.
  • Come back in the evening and the bees will be all in the box!

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Swarms Around Trees and Branches

  • Sometimes these are tricky to brush off.
  • People do not always let you clip their trees or bushes.
  • This was in a public place, so I did not want to cut anything!

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Use Your Box Lid

  • I brushed the bees off the young tree into the lid of the box.
  • It took more than one time before I had the queen.

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Use Your Hands

  • I wear dish washing gloves.
  • I can scoop up bees without harming them and feel perfectly safe.
  • Do not believe all swarms are gentle, by the way!

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Al Piombo’s Giant Swarm

  • He said it took 3 deep boxes to collect this one!
  • Do you think he believed the caller when he was told how big it was?

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St. Patrick’s Day Swarm

  • This swarm was an annual event.
  • Once a year I was called to a Rohnert Park apartment complex to get the bees that swarmed out of an old oak tree.
  • It pays to do a good job the first time.

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How to Become Famous�Catch swarms in downtown areas

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Beekeeping for Dummies came to mind with this one!

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Share the Fun

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Share the Bees

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Fumi Gathers Bees for Apitherapy

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What Next?

  • I go back after dark to get the swarm.
  • When I get the bees home, I place the box where their permanent home will be but do not open it.
  • The next day I move the colony into their new hive with all new fresh foundation except for the couple of old combs I used in the catching process.
  • Last year I started giving each swarm a jar of 50-50 sugar water with a food supplement added to it.
  • Once in a great while the bees are not grateful and leave in spite of the love I promise them. That is life!