And it has been cold + rain, cold + windy! Not really cold, but around 15/16 degrees. I’m all ready to go, with sun.
Nieces & nephew here couple of days ago to help. They discovered the smoker & so ‘practiced’ lighting & puffing at anything that moved, fire brigade is down the hill & sirens went off. the girls panicked & got the hose out. So then everything was really dripping wet + ash,smoke everywhere. Could barely see for all the smoke prior to them ‘putting it out’. I don’t know what other people are doing but keeping that thing going was not a problem!
This is a (poor) photo of the Pine tree colony I think will swarm first, didn’t go last year. This build up has happened just in the last week…
I hope I can catch them!
I will see how I go with the transfer & comb. They’ve been in there a long time now, will be interesting to see what I find.
I’m planning to do foundationless between foundation, or rather their comb between foundation. Am impatient for good day to get in there.
“Should the weather, the day after you have placed the hive containing your swarm in your bee-shed,
turn out wet and cold, push into the hive through the entrance hole a couple of sticks of barley-sugar, or more. Half-a-pound only costs sevenpence, and you will get it all back in due time ; thereby the
bees will start with renewed strength, as soon as the weather clears up, most grateful for a little help
when help is most required. You need not fear lest by so doing you will encourage idleness or mendicancy.
Bees are not like street beggars.They do not want to be dependent. All they ask is a little help at the beginning, to be able then to help themselves.”
@JeffH the box I brought down swarmed today! I was setting up my suit, smoker etc. to do the transfer & off they went…I caught them!!!. I had a couple of mishaps but they are now hived. I will give you a call in the morning, have a couple of questions, but am exhausted. So will post some pic.s & the full tale tomorrow. So happy, thrilled
Hi
I live in urban Sydney and it is spring now. Almost every year in the past 7 years a huge swarm of bees has moved into my wall cavity.
They scout around the windows for about 2 days. Then in the mid afternoon they make a big move. They cover the wall from roof to over the driveway.
They haven’t come yet and I’m wondering if there is anyway of catching them before the queen goes into the wall?
It’s so sad to see them poisoned every year.
I assume it is also very sad for their owner!
I looked at buying a flow hive - it’s complicated and would cost me a lot! I know nothing but would love to stop the yearly death of a bee swarm.
Thanks
Joanna
Hi Joanna, yes it is sad to have to poison the bees. The only thing you can do is to create physical barriers to prevent the bees from being able to access the wall cavities. If you have a brick veneer house you can buy Pest Stoppers for the weep holes or use fly wire which is a lot cheaper. Any other gaps around the house that are not supposed to be there can be filled with Roof & Gutter Sealant.
If the scouts do arrive before you get a chance to block the holes, simply give all of the gaps a spray with surface spray. They will quickly go somewhere else where it smells better
Thanks Jeff
I won’t be able to block all gaps unfortunately it’s part of the design of the brick work.
I’ll try spray again - it didn’t work last year but it might this time.
If you can find a way to fill those gaps without it looking obvious or so that the building can still breathe if that is needed that would be good. If the scouts arrive, just drench the gaps with surface spray. That always works for me when I get called out to find that it’s the scouts. Finding that it’s the scouts is always the best outcome for the home owners. Then I try to encourage them to bee proof the house.
Hi Joanna, where abouts in Sydney are you located? A simple 8-frame hive or cardboard box on a ladder or situated in an elevated position near where they are trying to enter the house maybe enough to convince them to move in. A smear of lemongrass scent or oil on the inside of the box near the back is all you need as an attractant.
A local beekeeper can then help you setup or take them off your hands. There must be a hive nearby for you to be getting these bees every year.
