NorTracNY
Platinum Member
I was fortunate last year to get a swarm like this. They were bunched up on the corner of a boxed in window that came out from the side of the house about 12". I was certain that I wasn't going to get them and it would be an expensive extraction for the owner. The surprise and the only reason I answered the call was that the bees has been there for weeks and built comb in the corner. I removed the comb and put it into a box I left there for a few days. Despite seeing bees going in and out of the soffit. They must not have had significant space inside.So I went to the house last night to consult with the owner regarding the cutout. It appeared the swarm was just moving in, they were still very unorganized and swarmy. I took a swarm trap with me, in case it was an easy scoop and run. I left the trap under the overhang where the bees were entering the house when I left. Today I got a video from the owner showing a lot of activity entering and exiting the trap. Wouldnt it be WILD if they changed their mind and just took up camp in my box? I’ll check back in a couple days, and I have doubts, but a guy can dream!
Update. The owner reports maybe 5-10 bees near the opening under the soffit. Yesterday it was hundreds. All the activity is at the box
It certainly is not good, but honeybees will do dumb things when they can't find a good location to move to. Many years ago I was leaving my apiary in the early winter. About 15' into some thick brush I caught a huge amount of comb. Apparently a swarm built it during the summer and eventually died off. There's no way a hive can survive in the open like that. Robbing in the fall likely killed them off. Too much open comb to guard.