Swarms, Swarms, and so many more swarms!
Spring has sprung and so have the swarms. The BeeKeeper and his Head Bee in Charge (HBIC) were called to the Old Irish Cemetery and found a calm hive with the queen protected in the middle of Honey Locus tree most folks just call thorn tree. They found three different hives situations that day. The first, the swarm in the tree. Second was a beautiful established hive in the woods just beyond the thorn tree, and lastly there was an established hive in a camper on near by property. So why did the BeeKeep and HBIC one come back to the apiary with one hive…..or how dare they take a hive off of that tree?!
Swarms are hives in need of a home. A swarm (photo below) often is out of place and fairly easy to spot. The bees are in search of a new palace. Most commonly, a hive has grow over the cooler months and have created another queen. The queen has to fight for the crown. The winning queen takes over or resumes her duties. The departing queen takes the Ladies in Waiting and in a hurry and now without a home. While the swarm is protecting the queen, scout bees are looking for a new place to live. Swarms may stick around a day to two but will move on. Beekeepers provide a new palace with walls already in place so they can begin to build their queendome.
The hive in the tree just beyond the swarm was an established hive, in the woods, doing what we all need them to do and that is to live their best lives! The BeeKeep and HBIC left them in the woods.
There was also an established hive in a camper. The hive is protected and growing, however it is in an unwanted place. Another example of this would bees hives within the wall of a home. This type of removal takes skill and the ability to repair the structure after hive removal. The BeeKeep believes he can move the bees, but the camper will be in ill repair.
Let me tell you what is funny though, HBIC bent in an awkward position and one of the ladies came in for the sting right in the crack of her butt. LOL
PS: Lesson learned in the Irish Cemetery do not bend over and cough while moving a hive.
Hive: Irish Cemetery Palace
Queen: The Queen of Thorns.
Added 04/2024.
