… sorry! For clearer board read follower board. Andrew
From: Andrew Bax <andrew.bax@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: 12 April 2019 15:50
To: 'oxnatbees@xxxxxxxxxxxxx' <oxnatbees@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: RE: [oxnatbees] Re: Swarm preparation
One of my hybrid hives has just swarmed and, obligingly, the cluster was within
easy reach. The hive it came from has an entrance at each end and can be
divided by a clearer board so I plan to return the swarm to the same hive and
re-unite the two parts in a month or two. Andrew
From: oxnatbees-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:oxnatbees-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
<oxnatbees-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:oxnatbees-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> > On
Behalf Of Helen Nunn
Sent: 12 April 2019 15:38
To: oxnatbees <oxnatbees@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:oxnatbees@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> >
Subject: [oxnatbees] Re: Swarm preparation
Thank you Paul. This was such a useful email. I opened my two TBHs on Wednesday
and one is completely full on 21 bars so I'm expecting that to swarm as soon as
it can. There was no need to move honey bars as the brood was pretty much up to
the end anyway. The other hive was on 10 bars and again, no solid honey to
move, so I think they will just expand (they were a swarm last year).
Thanks again
Helen
On Fri, 12 Apr 2019 at 10:22, Oxnatbees <oxnatbees@xxxxxxxxx
<mailto:oxnatbees@xxxxxxxxx> > wrote:
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.
