Top Bar Hive - Top Bar Beekeeping

Late Swarm Catched

After being without bees for couple of days I got a call from some relative that he has some swarm in his apple tree yard. This time of year it is very strange for bees to swarm so I went to look if this is true. And sure there they were !

I went back home and took my bee suit and started catching my first swarm of bees. I shook the tree but only 2/3 of the bees went into the box. I tried to bring them down with my hand and they went crazy started stinging all around. I ran through the apple tree brunches to get rid of them, smoked a cigarette and went back to look what is going on. Swarm was still on the tree so it seems I didn't catch the queen. I left the box there since it was already dark, covered the top and only left entrance on the bottom of the box ( custom made 7 frames Lang beehive ).

I went next day first thing in the morning to see what is going on and I found still half of the swarm on the tree and the other half in the box.



I decided to get back in the evening and pick them up. So I went home and I got the call 2 hours later that there are no more bees on the tree. Oh well, I thought ... they left ! I went there to pick the box and guess what ! They were all inside ! Good :)

Went there in the evening, closed the entrances and took the swarm home. I had luck with my first swarm catching. I hope the next one will go smoother...