Swarms were reported in Suffolk and Hampshire on 8th April. People are
reporting scouts checking out bait hives in Lancashire & Sussex. We've
probably got 1-3 weeks before they start here.
If your strong hive suddenly seems weak, with remarkably few flyers, look
around. You may find a swarm hanging nearby.
if your hive swarms *make a note of the date. *They may well throw out
afterswarms 7-8 days later. (It's at this point you may hear piping,
tooting, quacking as the new queens negotiate, kill each other etc.)
*Signs of imminent swarming:*
- Large, bustling colony running out of room. In my experience hives
don't often swarm if they were only established last year, though some
particularly strong ones do.
- In particular, a huge rise in numbers without a matching increase in
comb - resulting in clusters of bees hanging under comb but not "chaining"
to build new comb
- Drones present (Will has seen these)
- Hot, settled weather - a few days of baking sun is a trigger. Although
they prefer to swarm above 20C, we have a long warm dry spell ahead,
peaking around 17C in a week.
- Amount of pollen being gathered rises dramatically (hundreds of bees
arriving a minute with full pollen baskets) just before swarming
- Sound of the hive changes to a steady, deep monotone hum a few minutes
before swarming. (This is the drones, their wings beat at a deeper, louder
tone than workers').
Best get your swarm collection kit ready:
- Sheet
- Protective gear
- Ventilated box
- Duct tape
- Feather / bee brush
- Water, mobile phone / camera, snack (for you)
- Make sure you have a hive set up ready for the bees
- Scent bait boxes eg with comb / wax cappings, propolis, 1-2 drops of
lemongrass oil
Below is the latest list of who is after swarms. If you have, or hear of, a
spare one remember we try to re-home them near their point of origin.
Paul
*OxNatBees Swarm notification list 2019 (organised by region)*
*Name* *Location* *Postcode* *Contact info* *Swarms wanted* *Notes*
*North Oxfordshire*
Paul Honigmann Steeple Aston OX25 4SR 01869 340665 / 07512 224700 2
Jeannie Donald-McKim Bladon
1 *Prioritise: no bees*
Dawn Gosling Banbury
07949 095170 1 *Lower priority by request*
Santa Eglite Banbury OX15 6EH 07792 722230 2 *Prioritise: no bees*
Sarah Pulvertaft Taston (N of Woodstock) OX7 3JL 07914 582688 1
Zuzana Meryova Long Hanborough
07733 305440 2
Simon Morton Chipping Norton
07508 760751 2
*East Oxfordshire*
Richard Sheehan Great Hasely OX44 7JU 7827779151 2 *Prioritise: no bees*
Stefanie Taeumer Watlington OX49 5DN 07818 858942 1
Karl Pattison Bicester
01869 247995, 07779 850850 0 *Has offered to catch swarms for others*
Magalie Valadier Great Missenden HP16 9LQ (Bucks)
07950 525962 1 *Best to text if she does not pick up*
*Central Oxfordshire*
Jon Woods Boars Hill / Abingdon
07770 415638 1
Ann Poulter Central Oxford
07773 671034 2
Jane and Patrick Denby Central Oxford (near Oxford Brookes) OX3 0BT 07920
485756, 07401 423693 1 *Prioritise: no bees*
Jane and Phil Wolvercote OX2 8PP 01865 559556, 01865 429388, 07974 821864 2
Brian and Faith Summertown
07722 959882, 01865 512614 1
Will H Headington, central Oxford
07770 932669 4 *Two apiaries.*
Sam Acton Rose Hill,Oxford OX4 07811 727787 1 *Prioritise: no bees*
Cressida Battersby West Oxford OX2 9AS 01865 248742 1 *Prioritise: no bees*
*West Oxfordshire*
Mariella Charlbury
07709 970376 1
Marc and Lisa Bampton / Witney
07921 491 605 / 07855 768653 1
Sharon Nichols Farmoor
07960 027660 1
Gilliane Sills Hinksey Hill
01865 721644, 07854 761302 2
Gary Peacock Eynsham
07740 373128 (work) 07799 606041 (personal) 2
*South Oxfordshire*
Keith Richards Brightwalton
07810 554277 2
*Total still wanted (last year:47)*
*35*
*Swarm collection charges:*
A swarm we tell you of, but you go collect it yourself: No charge
A swarm someone else catches for you, you then pick it up from them: You
pay them £15
A swarm someone else catches for you, and they deliver it to you: You pay
them £30
*This charge covers the collector's time & expense. No guarantees offered
with swarms.*
