DaveNH
Gold Member
Got an update on them bees?
Bees, gobs of bees
- Thread starter JATO_RaT
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herbenus
Gold Member
I found a swarm on a branch of a tree one day. By evening they were gone. I'm not sure how long they were there. I was real careful not to p--s them off...
The bees are still huddled on the branch (as of 6/2, 1:51:46 PM PST), maybe 10 or so always buzzing around the outside. They aren't bothering anyone and were actually a focal point of the birthday party yesterday. Almost everyone came to have a look at them. At first some were scared but once they had a look, that fear went away and they just stood there with complete amazement. I'll just wait to see what happens. I assume they will need to go get a drink or eat or exercise or something at some point. It's getting pretty warm to be that tightly packed. Imagine that Queen with 20,000 guys on her /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif Rat....
DaveNH
Gold Member
Rat....
<font color="blue">Imagine that Queen with 20,000 guys on her. </font>
Not to bore you with the details but all those bees are her daughters (workers).
There might be a few bigger fatter looking ones which are her sons (Drones)!
Queens can lay either a fertilized egg or an unfertilized egg.
Fertile eggs develope into females and unfertilized eggs become males.
Females can become either workers or a new queen depending on the
diet. But that's another long story and I said I wouldn't bore you. Sorry!
/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Sometimes they have a hard time finding a new cavity.
If they don't find one nearby they'll move somewhere else and
start a new search. Give them a few more days, then when they
fine a new home they'll be gone. It's very seldem that they will begin
a colony in the open. It does happen every once in a while but
it very rare.
THANKS for not killing them.
<font color="blue">Imagine that Queen with 20,000 guys on her. </font>
Not to bore you with the details but all those bees are her daughters (workers).
There might be a few bigger fatter looking ones which are her sons (Drones)!
Queens can lay either a fertilized egg or an unfertilized egg.
Fertile eggs develope into females and unfertilized eggs become males.
Females can become either workers or a new queen depending on the
diet. But that's another long story and I said I wouldn't bore you. Sorry!
/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Sometimes they have a hard time finding a new cavity.
If they don't find one nearby they'll move somewhere else and
start a new search. Give them a few more days, then when they
fine a new home they'll be gone. It's very seldem that they will begin
a colony in the open. It does happen every once in a while but
it very rare.
THANKS for not killing them.
Bird
Rest in Peace
I've never known a swarm to stay in one place out in the open like that for that long. It may not be unusual, but sure surprising to me. Does anyone else remember watching a pro baseball game on TV several years ago when they had a swarm of bees light on the railing (down the third base line if I remember right) and they pretty quickly got a beekeeper in there to collect them in a box? I don't remember what year or who was playing that day.
Oh Dave, if you only knew me. I'm such a stinkin pacifist it's ridiculous. I don't ever kill bees, yellowjackets and sometimes wasps excluded, but hey, they started it. Other then that, I grab spiders and moths etc. by hand and toss them out the door. So those are a bunch of females. I always figured they were males, you know workers, boy, what a Chauvanist attitude with a capitol C, Patricia Ireland, I'm so sorry. Still here hanging around at 4:52:25 PM. Temeperature is 98.2 (in a metal overhead awning), humidity is 26%, 977 mb pressure, moon is about 1/4, I love my Oregon Scientific radio controlled satellite clock desktop thingamajig. Rat...
Boone
Gold Member
A number of years ago, my brother and I used to install chainlink fence. We got a job to fence a cemetary. The job was huge and we had to travel about a hour to get there, all this cut into our profit. Then we started drilling holes and discovered the ground was limestone rock at one foot down, slowed down even more.
Well, we finally got the posts set in concrete and we went back out to put up the fabric. I was unrolling the chainlink and got down to the far end where the nieghbor had her garden extending into the church grounds. Now, this garden had been discussed with the priest, the nieghbor and my brother and I. We were to cut right on through the garden. I told the lady we would try not to destroy any more if we could help.
So, there I was at the edge of the garden with a 5 foot roll of 9 gauge chainlink, at a complete stop. Her garden was a poppy patch in bloom and full of bees. The garden was just humming loudly from all the bees. Well we had a little discussion my brother and I. We decided we were losing to much money to hold up any longer on this job. We were there so we went right on through. Very scary day for me but no bites.
Well, we finally got the posts set in concrete and we went back out to put up the fabric. I was unrolling the chainlink and got down to the far end where the nieghbor had her garden extending into the church grounds. Now, this garden had been discussed with the priest, the nieghbor and my brother and I. We were to cut right on through the garden. I told the lady we would try not to destroy any more if we could help.
So, there I was at the edge of the garden with a 5 foot roll of 9 gauge chainlink, at a complete stop. Her garden was a poppy patch in bloom and full of bees. The garden was just humming loudly from all the bees. Well we had a little discussion my brother and I. We decided we were losing to much money to hold up any longer on this job. We were there so we went right on through. Very scary day for me but no bites.
As a follow up, I still have the swarm of bees. Called a beekeeper, he will come by tomorrow and remove them. No cost if they are still in the "swarm" mode but otherwise $35 to remove a hive. The difference being the hive mode bees are more defensive and require the full uniform. The swarm require a pair of gloves. I'll never be a Bee guy and gladly pay the $35.00, he deserves it for the effort and gas money. Thanks again for all the comments, Rat...
19th_VA
Gold Member
How 'bout some pictures!!!!
