Between rain storms, a swarm flew into our yard.? Wanna see what happened?
It started with a high buzzing sound.? When I went to check our bees, they were out on their porches defending their homes.? A cloud of bees came into the bee yard then were pushed out by our bees.? They landed in our apple tree. The swirling cloud of bees settled down to this:
This is a very large swarm, possibly an entire hive (which is called an abscond.)
So I put on my massive (XXL) bee suit*, set up the ladder,…
…and climbed up with my Bee Vac**.
Then began the painstaking work of vacuuming up the bee swarm.
For the next hour, I slowly vacuum up the bee swarm.
Then, taa daa! Twenty or more pounds of bees! Ok, you can’t really see them here.
But notice the nice new rose bed! 
Inside the bee vac….? I set the bee vac down and took the top off.
This allows the bees that didn’t get vacuumed up to find the hive.? This swarm was very calm.
Even though I can dump the hive into a hive box and be done with it, the bees like to feel like they chose their new home.? So I dumped half of the hive in a hive deep and half on an old sheet.? The bees then climb into the box.
And I also cheated.? I took a frame of babies from another hive and put them in this hive.
One of the awesome things about bees is that they will never ever ever leave a baby – even if it’s not their own.? They will stay to care for any baby bee.? Period.
For the sake of clarity, these bees have flown from who knows where.? They are carrying at least three days worth of honey, pollen and water. And the very first thing they do?? They tend the babies they found in this hive.
They stick their butts in the air to fan the hive smell into the air. This calls any remaining bees to the colony.
Just before the next rain/snow storm, the hive is settled for the night.? (They would not have survived the night on their own.)? I’ll check it tomorrow (Saturday) to see how they are doing – if they need food, that kind of thing.
And I have a new hive.
~~~~~~~~
*I have this massive bee suit because we used to have some Africanized bees.? They were “smoke sensitive” which means that I had to enter then cold. They would chase me around the yard.? ARG!? A friend from England smuggled a German bee treatment which I used.? Once they weren’t smoked, they were all right.? I requeened them eventually.? I wear the big suit to get swarms because I do not know the temperament of the hive.? Generally, swarms are docile, but you never know.
**A Bee Vac is a Shop Vac engine stuck on that box.? The Shop Vac is too harsh for the bees, so you have to slow it way down to not kill or injure all the bees you are vacuuming.? Like any Shop Vac, it has a variety of attachments. We’ve found this set up to work the best at retrieving, but not injuring the bees.
you look sexy in your beekeeper thingamajog
Again I am doing that learning thing when I come by. Incidentally, what do you do with the honey?
Wow. That is fascinating, interesting, exciting AND educational to me. I love your bee posts! Well I love all your posts. But the bee ones are really cool.
FuriousBall – Ah shucks, you just like my grip on that hose.
Squirrelly – We eat some, we sell some at a farmer’s market. We give away about 1/2 of what we get. We are almost out… This years goal is healthy bees – then honey. So we’ll see.
Vixen – You’ll be a bee geek in no time!
wow! god sent those bees directly to you, huh? neat!
Wow…that is just sooo cool. I hope they do ok! I just got rid of my carpenter bees ;-( The guy said they’ll just probably go to a neighbor’s house…..oops! sorry! hehe. I kinda felt bad but I can’t having them eating up my house….so I think I made the right choice…lol.
Peace
Glad you now have a hive. Aren’t they lucky they swarmed into your yard.
WOW! I am out of fingers to count the new things I just learned… I had no idea bees were so cool! Thanks for a wonderful post!
She – Let’s hope so!
Odat – I hope they do Ok as well! It’s very exciting that’s for sure. You did what was right for you – and that’s always the right choice. Good for you!
Dr. John – A new hive! It’s a fortunate process, that’s for sure.
Bethanie – Bees are so very very cool.
Well, obviously they knew the right yard to swarm to
wow!! that is cool! and those bees found the right house, with you there to help and take care of them. Let us know how it goes!
Wow – it’s like you’re our own personalized Discovery Channel! This was neat to read.
Ian
Janet – They can smell the other bees. Bees like to be around other bees, so I think that’s why they came for a visit.
Claudia – I hope so. We’ll see tomorrow!
Ian – We prefer the “Wild Kingdom” but that’s because we’re old farts and remember the guy from the 1970s.
This may sound like a dumb question, but where do they store the honey, pollen, and water when they are in a swarm?
I am so allergic to bees, I try to find a local person to buy it from when we move…just hoping to desensitize myself a bit.
Some day you may just have to show me your bees. I’ve thought about raising bees a time or two, but they kinda scare me and lots of work aren’t they?
That is so interesting. I love that they won’t leave babies. Why are bees so much nicer then humans?
I like your bee suit. My boys would want one too.
I love your bee posts. It is a mini visit to a unique and strange land where I always learn something.
This was a fascinating read.
And, you look hot in that suit … LOL!
I am so impressed! I would have been terrified even with the suit on!
YAY for the new hive! And you do look hot with that hose in your hand!
you are amazing Claudia!!!
You are my hero!
I love reading about bees.
Great photos!
I have a tag for you if you’d like to come check it out.
http://forgetfulone.blogspot.com/2008/05/just-another-tag.html
Your blog doesn’t like me it is eating m’ posts
Not HOT!! but hot…trying again
*shrug* works now kiddo…beeutiful universe you have created for yourself and your neighbors. what a wonderful practice for your next incarnation.
Peace OG
I am certain you are HOT!! just not in that suit…ha ha ha ha
how are the bees doing?
Certainly not something I could ever see myself doing, but I love your play by play and instructions. Love learning something new.
Tommie – Pollen is stored in sack on the legs of the worker bees, honey and water is ingested. They hold it in their stomachs. Sounds gross, but their systems are a little different than ours.
Janeywan – You are welcome to come and see them any time. A couple years ago? Beekeeping was a lazy person’s hobby – not so much anymore.
Holly – I think that bees have a stronger sense of the “we”, whereas current society has a strong sense of the “me”. We could debate why this is for an age. These creatures out date up by over 100,000 years. If we make it that long, maybe we’ll adopt some of their way of being. When you guys are in town, you’ll have to stop in for a visit.
Cajun Vegan – Gosh, thanks!
C – Beekeeping is very thrilling – even in the suit. Swarm catching? Not so much.
CEO – Yes, it’s all about the hose handling!
No Nonsense Girl – Gosh, hero? Thanks!
TWM – My Internet Service provider is struggling today – clearly it started this morning. Hopefully it would clear up! I’m pretty happy with this incarnation!
Claudia – Quite well, thanks! I can’t seem to post today so….
Sassy Mama Bear – It’s really very fun. I figure if I don’t include the play by play people would want to know!
That is so cool! I learned something, too. About you and bees. Pretty darn impressive.
Wow, this is a side of you I wouldn’t have guessed. Brave you are. Any honey for all that trouble?
How very cool!! I find the bee-keeping posts so fascinating!! How wonderful that you were able to adopt a new hive!!
WOW!! Thank you for the education, but I think I’m far from doing this on my own. Did this hive come with a new queen or two?
I should have the swarm that was in our plumeria some months back. I am allergic to bees (although I know they are magnificent creatures, hardworking and all). We shooed them away.
Fascinating read, great education I had today.
What a wonderfully written account. People who tend bees soon come to love these hard-working little Ladies.
[...] completely wrapped up with the bees, the swarms, the garden, the husband’s comprehensive exams, and every other non-computer time [...]