Most people run a mile at the thought of a bee swarm, but I actually want one! I have three hives ready and waiting for bees and it’s swarm season. Last year I went out on a bee swarm collection, it was fascinating.
The first thing you learn is that bees are at their least dangerous when they are swarming, in fact their main object is to find a new home.
Not only that but they have filled their bellies with honey to feed them on their journey and this means they are less able to sting.
Having said that if you run into a swarm screaming and waving your arms around, you are really asking for it!
I’ve put my name on lists all over the county and despite it being prime swarm time, I’ve heard nothing. So this week I’ve had my husband making bait boxes to catch bee swarms. We’ve made two and lured them with a special mix of essential oil and hung them in an orchard where bee swarms are known to congregate.
The idea is that the bees think the box is an ideal new home and start to set up home in there. Once they have settled in they can then be moved to a ready prepared hive.
I’ve also lured the finished hives so that if there are any passing scout bees they may like the look of the hive and simply relocate the colony there. So, fingers crossed.
In the meantime there is a rumour that there may be some bees that have been bred locally that I can have.
Watch this space.
