Scout Bees or Swarm Catch? (how to tell the difference)

Do I have scout bees or has a swarm moved in? This video shows you the differences in behavior between the two.
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[@cbbees1468]

Honeybee Democracy and The Lives of Bees both written by Thomas Seeley were spectacular books. Amazing how scout bees can spend anywhere from 10 minutes to one hour inspecting a tree cavity to determine its suitability; almost like we do with an open house.

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Bees are pretty cool. I plan to read the lives of bees over vacation in a week or two. I also picked up his book on beelining, which would be another fascinating hobby that I don't have time for.

[@jhulin9018]

Comment: Nathan, This was a very helpful video. I put up swarm traps and seeing activity at all but a lot at one in particular. I noticed their behavior was different as you noted and no pollen coming in so I knew they were considering but no takers yet. I also came to same conclusion not to refresh lure even though it is time per my calendar to do so. It was just nice to watch this video and get confirmation that I was on the right path. Again this video was very helpful and relevant as your videos typically are! Keep up the excellent work!

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Thanks Dwight!

[@Nofrillsasmr]

Super helpful!!! Thanks! I’ve got scouts. 🐝

[@MikeBarryBees]

Good examples. With the scout bees, I did not see the actual agent for the property showing it, so I agree, they're ready move soon. Without him or her, they must've already agreed and approved of the box. With a real estate agent present, they're still looking...

[@DuckRiverHoney]

I didn't see any bees putting a SOLD sign in the yard, so I'm not sure if they're under contract yet or not. If it would quit raining I'd get my truck and help them move furniture.

[@Jellyf0x]

Thank you! I placed a brood box with three frames of foundation and a lure in my garden. Today was the first sign of activity in and around the hive. There are plenty of scouts but no swarm yet. I told myself I can only keep bees if I can catch a swarm so wish me luck!

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Good luck!

[@jasonscruggs986]

Thanks you. I have moved one swarm to the apairy and have 2 more to move. I will be out of town all weekend so will move them Monday. I have picked you as my mentor because the way you explain everything 😃

[@DuckRiverHoney]

LOL thanks Jason, congrats!

[@rodneymiddleton9624]

I have scouts checking out one of my traps the other day. I'm going to check it today to see if they moved in. Thanks for sharing!

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Good luck!

[@rodneymiddleton9624]

@@DuckRiverHoney Thanks!!

[@BaitedCastaways]

You sir are a very well informed person about bees

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Thanks!

[@eljardinperdido]

Awesome. Found your video because I had some scouts investigating my unoccupied box today.

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Thanks!

[@michaelfike7542]

Moving swarm #10 today. Caught 1 and replaced the trap and another swarm moved in the same day 👍🐝.good luck hope they fill your boxes up.

[@DuckRiverHoney]

It’s fun when they do that!

[@g.morris570]

I live in Nova Scotia Canada i can not wait to try catching swarms your youtube videos are super informative!!

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Thanks! I try to answer a lot of the questions I've had.

[@frankmartorana]

Thanks for that video. I just caught my first swarm but wasn't sure. I guessed that seeing the pollen come in had to be a good sign and you confirmed it!

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Congrats Frank!

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Congrats Frank!

[@Danielcapalongo]

Thank you for the great info! Currently waiting to see if the scout bees pull the trigger on one of my bait hives!

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Good Luck!

[@GEEZBEEZ]

Looks like your efforts are paying off. Thanks for the information.

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Thanks!

[@strugglingbeekeepermarkcot9642]

Great stuff buddy thanks for sharing. I love catching swarms in my swarm traps.

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Thanks Mark!

[@spencerjensen1993]

That’s so exciting to catch a swarm!! Hope it becomes a strong hive for you!

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Thanks! They're doing really well so far. Dark bees, and very gentle. Definitely some different genetics that what I have around home. I'm excited to see how they do.

[@babybeeapiaries8667]

When my wife tells me it's a convenient time! LOL. Been there!

[@jhulin9018]

Question: One thing I noticed today (I have never had this many scout bees to watch) when observing my scout bees was that the bees appeared to "wrestle" with one another and be checking each other out. I have seen outright fighting of guard bees at a hive entrance but this was not like that (e.g. entangled in a death grip falling to the ground) but more of overly curious about each other and wrestling with a little bravado. You did not mention that in your video so I was wondering if you had observed that as another differing behavior of scouts versus occupants?

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Could be scouts from two different swarms looking at it?

[@johnnicholas495]

I was wondering the same. I thought it might be from 2 different swarms

[@jhulin9018]

@@johnnicholas495 In the end I was jilted as nobody moved in. Guess they found better accommodations 😜

[@BrandonSBaker]

I got up this morning at thought its time for blackberry bloom!

[@DuckRiverHoney]

LOL, thinking like a beekeeper.

[@cheriludwick2156]

Thank you! That was very helpful!

[@DuckRiverHoney]

👍

[@tonyfox5422]

I would like a discussion about in hive frame feeders vs hive top feeders. Do you leave them in all the time. If you have a dbl box system do you have a frame feeder in each box. Or do you just have a bid frame feeder in top box. Hope I make the question cut. I am in Uk. Our climate in Oxfordshire is mild with winter 40f temps and not much snow.

[@carybruton7284]

Great job. Thanks my friend

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Thanks!

[@johnmullen7254]

Nice tree stand!

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Not mine, but yes it is.

[@user-lu2jb8ob8m]

It's very easy to catch bees here. Bees rarely settle in such a trap in our country, it does not hang correctly.

[@sonofthunder.]

great nathan 4 so far,i think 3 are looking good,1 was just too small ,rehived 1 in backyard treestand,into a 5 frame nuc box w better comb,seen some drawing wax out on other foubdation,and foundation less frame, will relocate soon,yep these are my first year catches yr 2 at beekeeping some wins some losses, nw arkansas

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Awesome! It’s always a learning experience. Hive numbers are always a moving number. If you want 5 hives, that’ll be an average. Probably 8 on high end and 2 on low end.

[@josephrawls]

Great video.

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Thanks! I really appreciate it.

[@michellemerlo3744]

This is immensely helpful. I set my very first 2 traps yesterday and have a lot of interest on both today, but no swarm yet. They definitely look like your second box, maybe a little more scouts even. Hoping tomorrow is the day!

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Give them some time. If you see pollen going in then they’ve moved in.

[@meadowmade]

Thank you. We are in Crossville. Whereabouts are you all?

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Centerville area.

[@Lsmith-ly2cm]

Good video thank you so much.

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Thanks!

[@catchandinstallhoneybees.1901]

wow great information...i impress your video and i like...

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Thanks!

[@HaselorHoney]

I’ve had scouts all over 1 of my traps but the weather is all over the place. Warm and sunny 1 day and cold and wet the next. The swarm still not showed up 😆

[@DuckRiverHoney]

I’ve seen scouts for a couple weeks before the swarm moves in. I’ve also had them pick another place to go. You try your best to give them an attractive home, but if you’re fighting against a deadout with a lot of comb and you’ve only got foundation.....well comb is more attractive.

[@indsov2010]

Nice vid!

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Thanks!

[@PopleBackyardFarm]

We have had some scouts hanging around here lately

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Good sign, hope they move in.

[@tommyschlegel5653]

I'm just getting into bees this year. I've always trapped for fur...when I found I could buy bees or catch my own, well, I like trapping. So, are there advantages or disadvantages to using a deep hive body as a trap? Do you feel that the production of honey differs between caught bees and bought bees? I'm in SE Michigan, so I'm still trying to find the best time of year in my area.

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Deeps work well. There are differences in lines of bees, and differences between commercial and truly feral bees, but I won’t paint a wide brush.

[@tommyschlegel5653]

@Duck River Honey So, basically, I had spent a few months researching bee keeping. I had a connection for a couple nucs that fell through, and it's getting late to order swarms and nucs. I'm still gonna look, but I definitely would love to trap swarms. Do you have a high percent success catching swarms with queens?

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Every swarm should have a queen, whether mated or virgin. Not every caught swarm turns into a productive hive, but most do.

[@jeffcotton526]

Since you're in Tennessee, have you met or talked to Kamon Reynolds? Just curious.

[@DuckRiverHoney]

I haven't.

[@jeffcotton526]

Check out his channel here on KZbin. Tennessee's Bees

[@jeremytillman500]

I have had a swarm about 40ft up in a tree in my yard now for 3 days. There is a trap already on the tree and they are checking it out but haven’t moved in yet. I may just try and get them?

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Good luck, hard to get them that high unless they're on a small limb. Then you can shoot the limb down with a tight choked shotgun.

[@patrickriley5821]

60 to 70' seems to be the magic number so far as trap height. 😉

[@RMilitant]

I cant tell what is going on with my trap. It's been active for 4 days now. Bees in out and around it. The numbers vary right now there are about 60 but this morning a few hundred. Any ideas?

[@RMilitant]

Update. As I was leaving the house I saw the swarm collecting on a tree. So rather than wait and see I just went ahead picked them up.

[@DuckRiverHoney]

That’s a sure way, congrats!

[@hickoryhives8372]

Still waiting to catch one in a trap!

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Good luck!

[@smac5283]

Do you have to have liability insurance to sell honey?

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Good question. Not that I'm aware of. Laws in every state are different though.

[@smac5283]

@@DuckRiverHoney I'm thinking if someone is a good size honey producer with some name recognition and a less than honorable person claims they got sick off of the honey. It would cost $2000.+ to defend yourself in court. That's why I was asking about the liability insurance.

[@jeffcotton526]

So your wife decides your actions regarding the bees? LOL!

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Are you married? Living in peace with my wife is much better than not. And we have two young kids, so scheduling things around them is always a consideration. She is MUCH better at managing the schedule than me.

[@jeffcotton526]

I was being facetious. Every smart guy knows that behind his success is a woman kicking him in the rear. I used to be married, but she decided after 8 years that it was time to move on... 🙄

[@boatman6865]

Happy wife = happy life

[@daveupton8625]

It's funny how the scouts find it them go back get more scouts it's very democratic of the bees to have a vote if to move in or not 😂

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Have you read Honeybee Democracy? Fascinating stuff.

[@daveupton8625]

@@DuckRiverHoney will have to look it up as there's some much we simple don't know about bees.

[@DuckRiverHoney]

It’s a great book.