Honey Bee Scouting Behavior+Actual Swarm May 9 2019

I began this video for those of you who want to learn about swarms. Specifically what the behavior of "scout bees" that are sent out by a honey bee swarm that is looking for a new home looks like. I was able to video scouting activity, and within an hour the actual arrival of the swarm at one of the traps I had set out. This swarm was an interesting to to me because it was the first time I was able to spot the queen on the front of the trap, catch, mark, and return her to the swarm I caught in my trap. This was also my first swarm capture for 2019.

[@bradgoliphant]

Isn't it fascinating how they make unified decisions. And then how they return to the swarm and tell everyone to return. How they find there way around is amazing.

[@beecatcher6653]

Yes. I think swarm behavior is the most interesting and exciting part of beekeeping.

[@stefkadank-derpjr1453]

I know...I love setting up a trap with old comb...it's like telling them come on move in there is furniture and internet service already available.

[@bradgoliphant]

That’s funny. But who knows what they feel and think. It’s probably just like a “this is home” feeling.

[@donaldsmith3048]

You got one Queen! There is another one in the box! Put a hive near and put her in the hive and there is a good chance you will end up with 2 hives of bees

[@konradrueb1567]

Glad your back!! Great content.🐝safe and keep your smoker lit. Konrad.

[@clothespindolls]

Amazing! Thanks for posting and sharing!

[@bettymann8077]

Ryan told me about this video tonight at bee club. Thanks so much for posting... gives me some hope for my swarm trap.

[@stefkadank-derpjr1453]

The thrill of the catch. Last year was the first time I watched as a swarm entered one of my traps. It is awe inspiring. Many of my traps I have in the woods and on friends farms so I'm not always lucky to see the swarm enter...but last year yes. My husband also mentioned in was exactly 1 year ago today (April 5th). We are in North Georgia.

[@thomasrape4616]

I don't know why you cought the queen, they were moving into the swarm box. Just leave them alone. Give them a week then move them to their permanent box.

[@user-cp2sx8gp2z]

To keep the queen and bees from deciding to go elsewhere.

[@jamescraig8601]

You should always look in a large swarm for multiple queens.

[@rajbeekie7124]

That is so cool. Thanks for posting.

[@rmcefhuff]

Awesome! Thanks for sharing. I have caught two swarms this year. I have never been able to spot the queen. My first swarm was on Easter Sunday in which I witnessed. My second swarm I didn't witness. Southern Ohio

[@scott7359]

I was wondering when your swarm season would begin. Good to see you again! Thanks for sharing...

[@beecatcher6653]

Hi Scott Our swarm season generally starts aroun the first of May, but I think it has been delayed because of the cold rainy weather we have been having. I hope that changes now that the forecast is for a warming trend. Thanks for watching.

[@beekeeperarmy5058]

Our swarm season begins in October

[@peterlightbody8443]

Interesting to watch , Peter from Australia, I built 8 swarm boxes from your design this coming spring I will be putting them out .

[@1stBumbleBeeMaster]

Awesome Video. Nothing better then the sound of a swarm! Looks like 2 maybe joined forces there.

[@beekeeperarmy5058]

Our swarm season begins in October. ...and I catch 12 swarm each year within 15 days. They stays my place till june and again they leave my place. I never use queen gate to confine them. Bee type apis Serana

[@DarrellCraig]

I got 3 swarms earlier this year. They are fun to catch.

[@christianshannon3943]

Here in Virginia last summer I actually have witnessed the highest level of swarming right after a rainstorm or right after two or three days of light rainfall . Now since I have extra equipment that bees were in I will be setting up more swarm traps. Each one will have at least two used brood frames where I left about a quarter inch of brood comb attached at the top bars .

[@strugglingbeekeepermarkcot9642]

I had bees checking my swarm traps out here in West Virginia on May 8 but they didn’t take to any of them so I am hoping that I catch something before long in one of my traps.

[@Dstick1Spearfishing]

Thanks Mike for sharing that video. Do your swarms generally arrive with more than 1 queen when they are that size?

[@beecatcher6653]

I have not seen a swarm with more than one queen yet. There are so many bees in some of the large swarms that it would be tough to spot multiple queens. Especially virgin queens. I have caught 8 swarms so far this season. I did notice that most of the small swarms came with virgin queens. Thanks for your comment and thanks for watching the video.

[@Dstick1Spearfishing]

Just goes to show how things are different for everyone in different regions. We get swarms with multiple queens and it takes time to sort through them so that chaos does not ensue. Thanks for the help, love the videos!

[@RaySarasin]

In Canada its still winter time

[@johnfpaterson9948]

Hi Mike, don’t know how you apply the lemon grass oil after the hive is up. Every couple of weeks we apply lemon grass oil around the entrance of the swarm boxes. Which you use I think. We put our traps up around 10 ft so we would have to bring a ladder to apply the lemon grass oil after the traps are up. So we came up with this idea. We took about 6’ of 8mm OD and 6mm ID plastic tubing. We tape a tomato stake or wood dowel to the tubing which is about 4’ long apply a few drops of lemon grass to one end of a Q-tip put the Q-tip in the end of the tubing about 3/4 in. Reach up and apply the lemon grass to the opening then we blow on the end oh the tubing and shot it in the trap. Works great. Thanks John

[@beecatcher6653]

That is a pretty smart idea on how to apply the LGO. I kept hearing people say to hang the traps as high as possible. So I hung one about 20' high against a tree with a rope that I could lower it with. The scout bees don't visit it very much. They went into traps that are no more than 6 ' above the ground instead. I got my second swarm today. I hang my traps just high enough so I can reach the entrance with a couple drops of LGO. For me that is about 6'. I think a good location is more important than how high it is. Thanks for you comment.

[@mrcshoneybees]

Great video. What do you use for bait in your swarm traps? From North Royalton Ohio.

[@beecatcher6653]

I put 4 deep frames with new foundation and one frame with old dark brood comb. I use a few drops of lemon grass oil applied just inside the front entrance. Refresh the front about once a week. Don't wash out the inside of the trap after you remove the swarm. I think they leave a scent behind that is as good as any other attractant. Good luck. Maybe swarm activity will pick up next week if the weather improves in our area. Thanks for watching my video.

[@lindagray5857]

I once found 3 queens in a swarm, Now I keep looking.

[@mickreese]

So educational and straight-out realistic! I have the same initial activity in my swarm traps, but they just don't seem to come thru with the swarm. Is there anything that can be done to entice the scouts even more? It seems like they come and inspect, then in about 3 days, the interest dies. I am in northern Indiana. I have a deep appreciation for your location, in that, we experience similar geographical patterns. Thanks for your mentorship and willingness to share.

[@beecatcher6653]

I do not know exactly what your swarm trap setup is, so I will mention a few things that might help. I assume you are using swarm trap with a similar design to those in my"Swarm Trap Construction" video. Size and volume of the trap matters a lot. I have the best results with the trap entrance facing south or east. Make sure there are no obstructions in front of the trap. Like other trees. The edge of a woods line is good. If you are not having any luck, try moving one of the traps to a new location. Scout bees seem to be very picky about location. I have about 10 traps on my property, but most of the swarms choose one or two of those locations most of the time. Once you find a "sweet spot" keep using it. I use one frame with drawn comb and the others with new foundation inside the trap(no honey). I use a couple of drops of lemon grass oil at the trap entrance and refresh it about once a week. I hope that helps. Keep trying! Thanks for your comment. Good luck!

[@mickreese]

@@beecatcher6653 Isn't this luck? sent you this message yesterday. At 3:00, I was coming home from work and checking traps and low-n-behold! There at the bottom of one of the traps was about a 9-12 inch round cluster of bees. I caught the queen and they all marched in. You're good luck! Chuckling. Seriously, I patterned my traps exactly after your design. I think that swarming in the north is a little later this year; due to the cold weather. Thanks again for your valuable advice.

[@davidlayne8755]

Looks like your box trap needs to be bigger... That swam was big...wow

[@christianshannon3943]

If you had two or three brood frames in those boxes then you could have just placed her inside until you could get them into a standard hive body the next day . After it got dark close the entrance and bring down that swarm box and place it in a bee yard . Open the entrance so the bees can do their orientation flights. Later that day transfer the swarm into it’s new home . I would add an Apivar strip or two in right away to kick any mites to the curb before they begin brood rearing.

[@bradgoliphant]

Where do you live and what time is swarm season for you. Is it around the first week of May???

[@beecatcher6653]

I live in N E Ohio. I put my traps out before the end of April. Swarm season normally starts around the 1st of May in this area, depending on the weather. It does not hurt to put them out a little early, just in case they swarm a little early. I think they do some scouting before they leave the colony. Thanks for watching my video.

[@jljjoubert3611]

Goodday sir. Does the fact that the bees came back empty and then running around at the entrance, cement you're assessment that the bees are busy scouting? I pressume the catch box and you're expectation of an imminent swarming also add to it. Cobus🐳

[@beecatcher6653]

You are correct. Scout bees do not bring in pollen or nectar. They are only there to help the swarm decide if it is a suitable new home. It does not mean they will choose your trap. I have about ten traps on my property that are very easy to monitor. Just today they are all very busy. All of the traps are the same size. So I can only surmise that their choice will be based more on what the bees deem most desirable location. Thank you for your comment. I hope that helps. Good luck!

[@cluelessbeekeeping1322]

Any chance there were a few queens in that swarm? One swarm flew into a box of mine which had a caged queen (I forgot that she was caged) and I found 11 queens. They were all virgins too.

[@beecatcher6653]

I only found one queen in that swarm. I keep hearing about multiple queens in swarms, but I have never found more than one. It seems like a less common occurrence here in NE Ohio than in the southern states with warmer climates. Thanks for you comment.

[@jj01a]

is it common to see bees fighting or dragging bees out. I've been seeing scouts pulling bees out, doing some bee ju-jitsu to the point of getting entangled and falling to the ground where they tussle in the grass . seen days of heavy activity, then nothing, heavy activity, then nothing. as this is my first year trying to trap swarms, i'll say it's a bit of an emotional rollercoaster.but a fun noe.

[@lexusl849]

They are being invaded aka honey robber. Many cases they can kill the queen.

[@conradriffle8262]

dont let that queen loose=sometimes there are many queens in a swarm. the first in the hive tell the bees to killall the extra queens.

[@deborahwilson2107]

Here in Mobile Alabama at my house in front yard 🌳, there's a large nest

[@beecatcher6653]

Call a local beekeeper. He will come and get it. The swarm will leave in a couple of days if you leave it alone.

[@fdman6981]

how long before they start swarming do they start checking out your traps?

[@beecatcher6653]

My traps are easily visible because they are near our home. As soon as I see scouting activity I keep a close eye on the traps. I know from experience that the scouting begins as soon as the swarm has left the hive and is hanging/clustered in a tree(or other structure). I suspect some scouting may start before they swarm, but I have no way to verify that. You just need to wait and see if the bees choose one of your traps at that point. Scouting can go on for several days before the bees choose a new home Thanks for your comment.

[@fdman6981]

@@beecatcher6653 cool, that is all new info to me.

[@Beekeeping8563]

Wow😮😮👍👍👍

[@Islamtv591]

Owsam Sir what material you use inside box for swarm trape

[@beecatcher6653]

One frame of dark drawn comb and 4 frames with new foundation. 3 drops of lemon grass oil inside the entrance. Refresh it about once per week. I hope that helps. Thanks for your comment.

[@Islamtv591]

@@beecatcher6653 thank you please inform me when swarming seasons end can i trape bees in june or july

[@beecatcher6653]

I am in NE Ohio. Our swarm season normally begins around the last week of April and peaks in May. This year it started late. I got my first Swarm 2 days ago. My traps are very busy today, so I hope get another one today. I leave my traps up until the end of July. I have caught several swarms in July. Swarm season may vary depending on the weather in your area. Good luck!

[@Islamtv591]

@@beecatcher6653 which weather is best for swarming sir please inform

[@darlaschiff2680]

Will scout bees spend the night in the swarm trap before going back to swarm?

[@beecatcher6653]

Darla, There is no way to know for sure. I have seen the scouts exit the traps at sunrise. I believe they do sometimes stay overnight.

[@BasvanHeelRoseboom]

Yes they do .. Thomas seeley did research.. honeybee democatry, the life of bees books

[@captbriansbees]

It looks like these swarm catching guys are just catching their own bees that swarm from their own apiary.?

[@johnfpaterson9948]

Hi Beecatcher another great video. I have been using your swarm boxes, this will be the third year. First year caught three swarms. Second year caught three swarms and lost two that didn’t stay. You touched on something I am curious about, bees like certain spots and my short expirence with catching swarms prove this. If you catch a swarm keep putting the box back in the same spot. If you don’t see activity or scouts move the box to a different spot until you see activity. Now I have hives and face them south in general would you say the bees them will forage south of the hive. If this thinking has some merit would you say putting swarm boxes south of your hives would be more likely to catch a swarm from my hives than putting a swarm box north. Do you believe in ley lines related to bees. This might be why bees like certain areas. I have built some seven frame swarm traps same configuration as your design. The swarms we lost were very large, They were on the trap but didn’t stay. Thought we would try some larger trays. Thanks again

[@beecatcher6653]

Hi John, I am not sure I have a definite answer to all of your questions. I will tell you what I have observed. Our weather here usually moves west to east. So I place all of my traps with the entrance facing south or east. I have not caught any swarms with the entrance facing west or north. It is just by chance that my hives are along a woods line on the north side of my property. Most of my traps are on the south woods line. I can't say how the flight path of foragers relates to the success rate of the traps. I do know that I consistently catch swarms in the same locations year after year. The bees check all of the traps, but they always end up choosing the same locations. It should be noted that I do not always hang the same box in the same location each year. It seems like I do not catch swarms from my own hives very often. I generally see my hive swarms leave my property. But swarms that are not from my hives go into my traps. Go figure? Large swarms hanging on the bottom of the traps seems to be a typical problem. I have had that happen several times. I made some larger traps, but they have not been in use long enough to see any difference in performance. When that happens, I brush the swarm into one or two deep hive bodies. I have not had any swarms leave doing it that way. I don't take a chance they will leave before entering the trap. They should go in as soon as they arrive if they have accepted the location. I think they leave when they realize the trap is too small for them. Cramming them into nuc boxes is not good either. They seem to know when they will be to crowded. I hope that helps some. Bees are sometimes very unpredictable. Thanks for your very interesting comment and questions. Good luck with catching swarms. Thanks for watching.

[@beecatcher6653]

This is one I had to sweep into a box. kzbin.info/www/bejne/paPVoWyPjLGJfMk

[@beecatcher6653]

That link did not seem to work. Lets try this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/paPVoWyPjLGJfMk

[@beecatcher6653]

Go to my May 29, 2016 video. Sorry. Copying a,link does not seem to work.

[@johnfpaterson9948]

Thanks for the lengthy response. I know I ramble on but your feed back is all good. Will let you know how I made out at the end of swarm season. I am located south of Albany NY about an hour. Thanks John

[@beetickler6418]

Doesn't caging the queen interfere?

[@1stBumbleBeeMaster]

Yes it does I agree. But when you put bait hives up and move them to a new location before they have built comb and brood they might abscond. So its like an insurance policy when moving a newly forming hive. Bees hate disturbance in the early stages. Just taking a lid will cause them to abscond if they are not established properly.

[@MarkRenkert]

....at least three queens in this group.....

[@johnriemers1130]

I just caught a swarm tonight at my boss's house 7,18,20 it's my first one im Perry happy about it. It had to come from one of his 27 hives. He doesn't take care of them like he should. He had over 100 hives last year.

[@cynthiahoward9495]

Queen 10:42 @ 4 o'clock from hole

[@matthewmccormick2417]

would have taken that Queen and put her in a Box close by the swarm location and kept her caged till you could look in swarm box for maybe another Queen

[@matthewmccormick2417]

Dont just look for 1 Queen, Many swarms have more then 1 if you look and find fast enough before it is killed.

[@workwithnature.atochizos6360]

If there is two queen in swarm can we split into two box

[@matthewmccormick2417]

@@workwithnature.atochizos6360 Yes depending on swarm size. Most if lets say you find 2 you can split into 2 nukes

[@1stBumbleBeeMaster]

Yes in my swarm video there where three Queens Not many people know this but most swarms will kill other queens and just have one but some can have two laying Queens in one hive. Usually end up being massive hives and needing plenty of brood box sized supers.