SoMDBeekeeper
New Member
{Revised for 2012}
Need a honey bee swarm picked up?
If you want to make sure the honey bees find a good home I am your man!
Have you seen Honey Bees lately? They are pretty rare aren't they?
Perhaps you've seen them in the wall of your house or an old shed. Or maybe you see a swarm of honey bees on a tree limb. They are vulnerable in that state so contact me immediately! I collect honey bee swarms FREE of charge and transplant them into top-notch chemical-free hives.
I also remove established honey bee colonies from structures and dwellings of any type. A small fee may be applicable here depending on hive size, level of job difficulty and danger involved. (falling, not stinging
I will do a consultation for FREE. It doesn't hurt to have me come and look at what you're dealing with. I service St. Mary's, Calvert and Charles counties. If you are outside of that area I may be available but I will charge mileage to and from at a minimum.
As I mentioned, please note I am an "Organically Managed" beekeeper and I have experience in handling honey bees and relocating them with as little disruption to the bees and home owner as possble.
Contact: [ somdbeekeeper at yahoo .com ](re-assemble this email address)
Or you can call (240)317-9009 - 24 hours a day
I monitor email constantly
Are you seeing bees somewhere and you're not sure if they are honeybees, hence not sure if I'm your guy?
BEFORE CALLING Please go down this checklist:
* Are you sure you have bees?
* Take a look at Honeybee Identification prior to swarm removal for pictures of bees vs. wasps.
* Can you see the nest? Is it round, gray, and papery looking? If so, it is a wasp nest, not a bee hive.
* Are the bees in a large clump and you haven’t noticed them before? If so, they are probably a swarm.
* Are the bees going in and out of a hole in your house, a tree, or another object? If so, there is probably a hive inside.
* How high is the place where the bees are entering and leaving?
* How long have you known the bees to be in this location?
* If you can, count the number of bees that come and go on a sunny day over a 20 second period of time. This will help us to determine the size of the hive.
* Has anyone attempted to remove the hive previously? If so, please be prepared to describe what work was done.
* Have you sprayed the bees with anything? If so, please make note of exactly what you sprayed them with.
* Are you the owner or a tenant of the property? If you are not the owner, we will need the owner’s permission to do a hive removal. We do not need the owner’s permission to remove a swarm.
(Credit : Bee Removal Checklist
Curiousity peaked? Read on!!
Swarm FAQs
What is a honey bee swarm?Honey bee swarms are a favorite topic of people who make horror movies. Actually, they are one of the most beautiful and interesting phenomena in nature. A swarm starting to issue is a thrilling sight. A swarm may contain from 1,500 to 30,000 bees including, workers, drones, and a queen. Swarming is an instinctive part of the annual life cycle of a honey bee colony. It provides a mechanism for the colony to reproduce itself.
What makes a honey bee colony swarm?Overcrowding and congestion in the nest are factors which predispose colonies to swarm. The presence of an old queen and a mild winter also contribute to the development of the swarming impulse. Swarming can be controlled by a skilled beekeeper; however, not all colonies live in hives and have a human caretaker.
When do honey bees swarm?
The tendency to swarm is usually greatest when bees increase their population rapidly in late spring and early summer. Typically, this would be April through July.
Are honey bee swarms dangerous?No - honey bees exhibit defensive behavior only in the vicinity of their nest. Defensive behavior is needed to protect their young and food supply. A honey bee swarm has neither young nor food stores and will not exhibit defensive behavior unless unduly provoked.
What should homeowners do about a honey bee swarm on their property?
When honey bees swarm they will settle on a tree limb, bush, or other convenient site. The cohesiveness of the swarm is due to their attraction to a pheromone produced by the queen. The swarm will send out scout bees to seek a cavity to nest in and will move on when a suitable nesting site is found. Rarely, swarms may initiate comb construction in the open if a suitable cavity cannot be found.
How does a beekeeper go about capturing a swarm of honey bees?
A swarm is looking for a new nesting site. A beekeeper can capture a swarm by placing a suitable container, such as an empty beehive, on the ground below the swarm and dislodging the bees at the entrance to the hive. The bees will begin to move into the hive which can be removed after dark to the beekeeper's apiary. You can observe the bees scent-fanning at the entrance to signal the entrance to the new nest as the bees march into their new home. If for some reason the queen does not go into the new hive, the bees will abandon it and form a cluster where she lands.
What type of nesting sites will honey bees seek?
Honey bees are cavity nesters and will seek a cavity of at least 15 liters of storage space. Hollow trees are a preferred nesting sites. Occasionally, bees will nest in the hollow walls of buildings, under porches, and in other "man-made" sites if they can find an entrance to a suitable cavity.
What can be done if a honey bee swarm establishes itself in an undesirable place?
Honey bees are beneficial pollinators and should be left alone and appreciated unless their nest are in conflict with human activity. If honey bees nest in the walls of a home, they can be removed or killed if necessary; however, it is advisable to open the area and remove the honey and combs or rodents and insects will be attracted. Also, without bees to control the temperature, the wax may melt and honey drip from the combs. After removal, the cavity should be filled with foam insulation as the nest odor will be attractive to future swarms. You may want to seek the assistance of a professional beekeeper or exterminator. Nests should be removed promptly from problem sites. After several months, they may have stored a considerable amount of honey. You can prevent swarms from nesting in walls by preventive maintenance. Honey bees will not make an entrance to a nest. They look for an existing entrance, so periodic inspection and caulking is all that is necessary to prevent them from occupying spaces in walls.
(Credit: Swarms)
___________________________________________________________
Thanks!
Craig
Contact: somdbeekeeper at yahoo.com <----I monitor this email 24/7
Want to know more about me? Visit my site:
Organically Managed Beekeeping Podcast and Blog
Need a honey bee swarm picked up?
If you want to make sure the honey bees find a good home I am your man!
Have you seen Honey Bees lately? They are pretty rare aren't they?
Perhaps you've seen them in the wall of your house or an old shed. Or maybe you see a swarm of honey bees on a tree limb. They are vulnerable in that state so contact me immediately! I collect honey bee swarms FREE of charge and transplant them into top-notch chemical-free hives.
I also remove established honey bee colonies from structures and dwellings of any type. A small fee may be applicable here depending on hive size, level of job difficulty and danger involved. (falling, not stinging
I will do a consultation for FREE. It doesn't hurt to have me come and look at what you're dealing with. I service St. Mary's, Calvert and Charles counties. If you are outside of that area I may be available but I will charge mileage to and from at a minimum. As I mentioned, please note I am an "Organically Managed" beekeeper and I have experience in handling honey bees and relocating them with as little disruption to the bees and home owner as possble.
Contact: [ somdbeekeeper at yahoo .com ](re-assemble this email address)
Or you can call (240)317-9009 - 24 hours a day
I monitor email constantly
Are you seeing bees somewhere and you're not sure if they are honeybees, hence not sure if I'm your guy?
BEFORE CALLING Please go down this checklist:
* Are you sure you have bees?
* Take a look at Honeybee Identification prior to swarm removal for pictures of bees vs. wasps.
* Can you see the nest? Is it round, gray, and papery looking? If so, it is a wasp nest, not a bee hive.
* Are the bees in a large clump and you haven’t noticed them before? If so, they are probably a swarm.
* Are the bees going in and out of a hole in your house, a tree, or another object? If so, there is probably a hive inside.
* How high is the place where the bees are entering and leaving?
* How long have you known the bees to be in this location?
* If you can, count the number of bees that come and go on a sunny day over a 20 second period of time. This will help us to determine the size of the hive.
* Has anyone attempted to remove the hive previously? If so, please be prepared to describe what work was done.
* Have you sprayed the bees with anything? If so, please make note of exactly what you sprayed them with.
* Are you the owner or a tenant of the property? If you are not the owner, we will need the owner’s permission to do a hive removal. We do not need the owner’s permission to remove a swarm.
(Credit : Bee Removal Checklist
Curiousity peaked? Read on!!
Swarm FAQs
What is a honey bee swarm?Honey bee swarms are a favorite topic of people who make horror movies. Actually, they are one of the most beautiful and interesting phenomena in nature. A swarm starting to issue is a thrilling sight. A swarm may contain from 1,500 to 30,000 bees including, workers, drones, and a queen. Swarming is an instinctive part of the annual life cycle of a honey bee colony. It provides a mechanism for the colony to reproduce itself.
What makes a honey bee colony swarm?Overcrowding and congestion in the nest are factors which predispose colonies to swarm. The presence of an old queen and a mild winter also contribute to the development of the swarming impulse. Swarming can be controlled by a skilled beekeeper; however, not all colonies live in hives and have a human caretaker.
When do honey bees swarm?
The tendency to swarm is usually greatest when bees increase their population rapidly in late spring and early summer. Typically, this would be April through July.
Are honey bee swarms dangerous?No - honey bees exhibit defensive behavior only in the vicinity of their nest. Defensive behavior is needed to protect their young and food supply. A honey bee swarm has neither young nor food stores and will not exhibit defensive behavior unless unduly provoked.
What should homeowners do about a honey bee swarm on their property?
When honey bees swarm they will settle on a tree limb, bush, or other convenient site. The cohesiveness of the swarm is due to their attraction to a pheromone produced by the queen. The swarm will send out scout bees to seek a cavity to nest in and will move on when a suitable nesting site is found. Rarely, swarms may initiate comb construction in the open if a suitable cavity cannot be found.
How does a beekeeper go about capturing a swarm of honey bees?
A swarm is looking for a new nesting site. A beekeeper can capture a swarm by placing a suitable container, such as an empty beehive, on the ground below the swarm and dislodging the bees at the entrance to the hive. The bees will begin to move into the hive which can be removed after dark to the beekeeper's apiary. You can observe the bees scent-fanning at the entrance to signal the entrance to the new nest as the bees march into their new home. If for some reason the queen does not go into the new hive, the bees will abandon it and form a cluster where she lands.
What type of nesting sites will honey bees seek?
Honey bees are cavity nesters and will seek a cavity of at least 15 liters of storage space. Hollow trees are a preferred nesting sites. Occasionally, bees will nest in the hollow walls of buildings, under porches, and in other "man-made" sites if they can find an entrance to a suitable cavity.
What can be done if a honey bee swarm establishes itself in an undesirable place?
Honey bees are beneficial pollinators and should be left alone and appreciated unless their nest are in conflict with human activity. If honey bees nest in the walls of a home, they can be removed or killed if necessary; however, it is advisable to open the area and remove the honey and combs or rodents and insects will be attracted. Also, without bees to control the temperature, the wax may melt and honey drip from the combs. After removal, the cavity should be filled with foam insulation as the nest odor will be attractive to future swarms. You may want to seek the assistance of a professional beekeeper or exterminator. Nests should be removed promptly from problem sites. After several months, they may have stored a considerable amount of honey. You can prevent swarms from nesting in walls by preventive maintenance. Honey bees will not make an entrance to a nest. They look for an existing entrance, so periodic inspection and caulking is all that is necessary to prevent them from occupying spaces in walls.
(Credit: Swarms)
___________________________________________________________
Thanks!
Craig
Contact: somdbeekeeper at yahoo.com <----I monitor this email 24/7
Want to know more about me? Visit my site:
Organically Managed Beekeeping Podcast and Blog
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