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The fava beans cleaned up |
I was cleaning up the fava bean bed, listening to my recorded book when I noticed a humming. Initially I did not think much of it, but it seemed to be getting louder. I turned around and there was a cloud of bees in the yard. One of the hives had just swarmed! I followed the cloud as it flew towards the back gate, then over the shed and around the plum tree. It was fairly high up. I ran out the back gate and watched the swarm head towards the redwoods. I never saw exactly where it settled, but Maidi, Karly and I could see bees flying around near the top of the redwood tree, at least 80 feet up. There will be no capturing that swarm.
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The cluster is up somewhere up there |
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Which hive swarmed? I looked in Olea's and it is still full. I doubt #1 swarmed because it is so young having just started this spring. So I figure #2 or 3. I will be able to tell by going in the hive but I am reluctant to do so. Only three days ago I inspected #3 and switched the drone frame in #2. I will just have to wait, although knowing which one is only academic.
Maybe we can guess by doorway activity.
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The left photo is #3. The right is #2.
Naturally I would like to capture the swarm, although I have no idea what I would do with it. So I put a used nuc up for a bait hive. It has a couple of frames with partially drawn comb in it and I will put some lemongrass oil in it and at the entrance. It is on top of the potting shed frame.
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Waiting for the swarm |
Addendum, May 12: I awoke early and thought about the bait box. It came to me that the scout bees look for a certain size space and that they might not find a box filled with frames attractive. I immediately got up and went to the box where I took out all but the foundationless frame. I left the frame because it has lots of old wax and propolis on it.
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