Just to add (in addition to Helen and Mike being really helpful!), that a
few bees could be seen bringing in pollen to the comb (on the gooseberry
bush). This comb was more 'advanced' than the small amount of comb normally
seen with a swarm at its 'staging post' (but this was not so apparent at
first--). When I eventually got the bees to Gulen's, it was clear that some
of the (damaged) comb, but not a great deal, had large larvae/ white
pupae, so it will have been in the gooseberry thicket a couple of
weeks,give or take a few days. So I guess this might be an example of when
bees don't go for a cavity, but (as can happen less commonly) set up shop
'outdoors' under some form of protective canopy? Probably didn't bank on
people breaching the gooseberry bush defences!
Mark
On Mon, May 30, 2022 at 10:24 PM Helen Nunn <helenmaynunn@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Hi Paul
Lynne will have told you that I rang earlier to ask about the people who
still want swarms. We had another on our allotment today - the neighbouring
plot has (or rather had!) three very overgrown gooseberry bushes which the
chap and his wife were netting. They had more or less done the job when
they realised there was a swarm of bees right in the middle, attached to
about three of the main stems at perhaps knee-height. You can perhaps
imagine the scenario! But wait a moment - there was also a fair amount of
comb already built. How to tackle it???
I contacted Mark Sandham, who promised to come and help, and take it to
Gulen's hive in Cumnor. We had to remove a fair bit of bush, and then try
and cut out the stems - which was not entirely successful, I have to admit.
I got stung through my gardening glove which I had forgotten to change, but
it's not too serious, fortunately. We managed to gather up the bits of comb
etc and Mark put them on his sheet, underneath a substantial box. They
seemed to be fanning, so we left them to it. Until the rain/hail storm at
teatime!
We dashed up to the allotment and gathered up the slightly soggy box and I
drove it home, fully suited up - Mike walked! (The sheet wasn't very easy
to tie.) Mark collected it later and has now hived it - but apparently
there was a fair bit of capped brood already in the combs. Does that mean
they have been there for a couple of weeks?
Anyway, I'm hoping that's enough swarms for this year - I've given away
three now. Sorry we didn't take photos.
Bye for now
Helen
