Large swarm ball, Charlotte Court House, VA June 29,2013

A monster of a ball of honey bees



We think that this colony came from a storm downed tree

Too large for the funnel. I used the vacuum system

I had to use 3 - deep supers to house this colony. Once settled I will split and add to developing nucs.

Storm downed tree, Scuffletown Community, Charlotte County, VA June 28,2013

This section broke away from the top of the Oak tree that was 25 feet from the ground

Fist cut was 6" too short. Long cuts have been made into log. There is one splitting wedge in place.

Storm downed tree, Harrisburg Community, Charlotte County, VA on June 6, 2013

Hollow was 20 feet from base of this Hickory tree. 27" at fist cut, 7' long with 20" at 2nd cut.

Bees were vacuumed into 10 frame deep super. Comb was cut out and placed in frames with rubber bands. Divider screen was pulled out to allow bees to enter the top box containing their own comb and brood.

Cumberland County, VA Cut Out

Beginner Bee Keeper

This is my youngest daughter with her first 2 hives.

Honey bee swarm box

This is the second swarm captured on this old metal saw frame.

Yard Swarm

During an inspection by a VA Ag Inspector, we found a hive with many queen cells. After a lengthily search we could not find the queen. I sat a baited box on an old radial arm saw stand about 50 feet out in front of the hive that was expected to swarm. They found the way one week later on April 16th.