I went to a house to do a trap out and this is what I found.



There were also two smaller clusters hanging from the eaves.

This hive was super aggressive when I inspected it and priced the job earlier this year. Yesterday they were calm and we were able to work them without a suit if we wanted.

Placed a medium super with some nurse bees and eggs, scooped a bunch of these bees in and coned the entry.

Since they were so calm (a few drones in the bunch) do you think the were getting ready to swarm? BTW it was in the upper 50's when we first got there about 1230.

Swarm

We have been receiving honey bee swarming calls the last few days locally here. Frantic folks alarmed by the collection of so many bees together call several times a week as the swarming season progresses. We dont address many swarm calls as most move on in a few days.If there are structural entry potentials they may move in and that can be monitored by the customer. Then we can do what is necessary for removal if needed.

Swarm x2

Thanks guys.

Had me wondering, as the bees have been living in this house for over a year, and their hive entry is right at that corner of the aluminum siding.

We are currently doing a trap out for the rest of the bees.

Been working on this trap out since mid May. Had to go back a couple of times to seal up a couple of spots the bees found to get back in.

They have two brood supers going great. Installed a queen excluder and two medium supers for honey. I took off excluder cone last week (after two weeks with no new bees coming out) to let them rob the honey left in the house. They must have got it because both honey supers are full and capped. We are going to take both off tomorrow and put two more on for another week just to be sure.

Seems like this is going well for my first trap out so I am going to keep my fingers crossed!!!!

I might try to get some pics to post too.

Make sure that you seal up the original entrance very very well...That spot WILL entice more bees to enter over the years. They
will not be able to resist the smell of an "old" hive.

X2, just one of the reasons I like cutouts from the inside. I can eyeball the entrance from the other side and do a better seal PLUS I can fill the void with fiberglass insulation or foam.

Congrats Dirk,Are you a beekeeper?if so disregard as I'm not in the know for your area, but we add one super at a time and then the second after 8 of 10 frames are drawn or filled as to much room in a hive can be a bad thing. Jim

Kept bees in the late 70's early 80's (high school). Only two hives. Once I started college I couldn't (wouldn't) make time for it, so I really did not learn much other than to get my feet wet. Then the mites and other stuff hit hard and my mom lost the hives.

I have a bee keeper who is assisting on this job, as I did not have any frames with eggs or nurse bees to start the trap out.

I typically get 8-12 swarms a year and have been giving them to a local bee keeper. I think I would like to start up again, but don't know if I can dedicate the proper time.

Are there any web sites or forums you guys would recommend?

Beesource.com/forums

Beemaster.com, even has a subforum for us removal guys.

Might check out Beekeepingforums.com as well as the two above. Jim