Thread: Swarm of bees

Cool, nice to see you didn't just call in the exterminators like some people do.

I used to keep bees and collect swarms a few years back, I'm too busy to do it these days (and don't have a big enough garden for beehives) but I plan to get back into it again one day.

Was that some sort of vacuum contaption the beekeeper used? Looks pretty neat.

I used to hate some of the swarm collections I did, in inacessable roofs, walls, inside illuminated signs above shopping centres etc. I could have done with a device like that!

Like steelforge, I used to keep bees, they absolutely fascinate me. About a month ago I had a swarm in a tree in the front yard, and alas all my hives and equipment were in storage elsewhere! It did make the blood boil. I am assuming the contraption that the beekeeper had in the pics was some kind of vacuum.(?) What an ingenious idea, damn sure beats the old ways, 5 gallon bucket, smoker and a soft brush. The only negative thing I can say about bees and beekeeping is that they always seem to go for the eyes. Loved te vid by the way.

Yea! its a Dirt Devil hand vac motor and housing mounted to the top of a wooden box with a couple of screens inside to give the bees a foothold and keep them out of the motor plus a plexi front so you can see how you are doing. Then he just mounted a long hose on it to suck up the swarm. We would have much rather cut the branch they were on and just carried the whole thing to his house but it was to large and to high to cut down. In the pictures he's on a twelve foot step ladder standing in the bed of his pick-up to get it high enough.

He's done a couple of wall removals and found that it is good for getting them out of the combs once you open the wall and can get to them.

Its a good thing those weren't giant hornets or you and the beekeeper would have been in a world of hurt.

I read somewhere that bees were starting to disappear for no appearant reason. some kind os hive disorder. anyone know more about this?

From what I hear its hitting the larger apiaries, but doesnt seem to bother the smaller ones, just a personal observation. If some one knows more I would be glad to hear it.

Just as well they weren't Africanised.

I'm like a big Jessy when it comes to bees. I run a mile when they come near me. It's an irrational phobia.