Swarming! What's next!!!!

The honeybees in Chanhassen were doing so well, last we checked... the queen was laying in a beautiful pattern, some brood were capped, nectar, pollen and honey were visible too. Then yesterday(June 29), the landowner where we have our colony, called to let us know that something strange had happened. As she was caring for her raspberries, she heard a loud buzzing sound coming from a tree nearby. She went to investigate. Of course, she was not fooled by the bees. They were not supposed to be there hanging in her tree, 8-10 feet up! They belong in their hive! Thank goodness my husband was home.

I came home within the hour and we jumped in the car all geared-up to take a look for ourselves. What a sight!

Many bees had found "refuge" on a tree branch, about 30 yards away from their hive. We knew then the honey bees had swarmed. Swarming is a natural occurrence, necessary for a species to survive. Usually, 30 to 70% of the honeybees and their queen leave the hive to start a new colony. Swarming can be caused by congestion of the brood nest. However in our situation, they had plenty of space to expand. Bees naturally expend their nest upward, not sideways, and absolutely never downward (except in the fall). However, a couple of better experienced beekeepers that we called, told us that for the past few weeks in June, the weather was less than optimal for the bees to forage. They think that the honeybees being much more inside than usual; the colony "felt" crowded, therefore taking the risk to escape to another location. I said "risk" because it is a dangerous move for them. They cannot stay "perched" like that for long. Some honeybees will be sent as look-outs to search high and low for a safe nesting place. In the meantime, they lack protection, they don't feed too much, and worst case scenario, they could loose their queen to a predator. Time is against them.

For us, this swarming "escapade" is no joke! As we are getting late in the season, the reduced colony will have a hard time comes autumn. However, I feel that we have to do whatever is necessary to help them re-build a strong colony...our main goal all along. The surplus honey will come next year for us.

However, in this terrible mishap which was not on my radar because, "If you are a first-year beekeeper, REST ASSURED that a new colony is UNLIKELY to swarm during its first season" we experienced something extraordinary. We observed a queen bee being born, right there under our own eyes.

See the New Virgin Queen emerging from the elongated peanut-shape appendage, and walking along the frame! Beautiful :)

We were told that this is a very rare moment that most beekeepers will never see in their beekeepers' life time. So, Ben and I are very grateful for witnessing this amazing birth. This took place after we had peeked at the tree, and started our inspection of the green colony in Chanhassen. As we were taking out the frames one by one as usual to inspect, I was removing all the "swarm cells" (elongated cells) while Ben was holding the frame for me. Then suddenly, I stopped myself hive tool up in the air, and told Ben that there was something moving in that open cell, and that I wanted to see what was going on. Slowly Ben turned the frame, so we could both take a good look! Then, I realized that a queen was about to get born. I took the frame, and told Ben to get his camera fitted with a special "close-up" lens. And he took beautiful pictures. After our "Paparazzi" moment(!) Ben replaced the frame so very carefully back in the hive. We continued our inspection somewhat excited, but mainly puzzled. We could see that there was still ample room to expand, we noticed capped brood, pollen, larvae, nectar and honey but however no new eggs. This is why the inhabitants of the green hive decided to raise a new virgin queen for their own survival, since the old queen and some fervent supporters were in the process of swarming! This is a great example of Nature at its best. The inspection was over...but what to do now with the swarm hanging in the tree?

After getting advice from 2 reputable beekeepers...We proceeded. We went back home to gather few thing: a step-ladder, a hand saw, a hive body and few frames, and a wooden shelf to use as a make-up lid!

It was then understood : Ben was going to go up the ladder, cut the branch and shake it over a box! I would simply hold the ladder, watch for anything "dangerous!" as if this endeavor was not!!! And encourage the good work. Seriously it was a little bit nerve racking.

Shaking the swarm over a hive body

Then Ben carried the box full of honeybees next to the original colony. To keep most of the bees in the box, we put an old shower curtain on top!

We took the hive third body from the original colony and removed all the bees with a little brush. Finally the box was placed with all 10 frames, on top of the swarm box. We do not have enough equipment so we took a wooden shelve from the garage to make it as a cover for the new colony.

Voila, we were done and happy!.... So we thought!