Not all pest control is about killing

[John Keswick 119]

Last week took a trip down to the other side of Romsey to rescue a colony of bees that had got themselves into the wall of a boarding kennels.

They were on the end of a store shed which was right next to the kennels. The owners were nervous about the dogs getting stung etc so one way or another they had to be gone.

 

 

 

 

Armed with my bee vac and a set of pry bars I set too and ripped the inner boards off the wall and set about hoovering the bees up.

 

 

 

Once most of the bees were caught, I cut all the exisiting comb with brood into frames and elastic banded them in place ready for transport.

 

I took them back to where they were going to be sited and set up the box and stand, made sure the combs were still ok, then shook the bees into the box, popped the lid on and left them alone, next morning there was still a lot of chaos with flying bees orientating themselves to their new home.

 

Yesterday I checked them for the first time, as I wasn't sure that I had caught the queen or not. All the old wild combs had been secured to the frames and been expanded, the new foundation frames were being drawn out nicely, and plenty of eggs, so she is there.

The best thing about the whole exercise is, they are the nicest temperament bees that I now have, no flying, boiling up on top of the frames, no pinging, biting or stinging.

So nothing was killed, i got paid and i got another colony of nice bees and the customer was happy.

That's what I call a result.

 

 

 

 

The mini vac

 

 

 

 

 

Edited April 25, 2011 by John Keswick

[skycat 6,173]

That looks like time and effort well spent. Good to see someone actually caring about the bees. I've seen too many pest controllers just kill off a colony in that sort of situation.

[John Keswick 119]

That looks like time and effort well spent. Good to see someone actually caring about the bees. I've seen too many pest controllers just kill off a colony in that sort of situation.

 

Yep, all to easy to just rely on insecticides! Lack of knowledge most of the time.

Where bees can be extracted every effort should be made to do so in my opinion. Couple of hours and i was on my way home.

Treating colonies with insectisides means a second visit to block up anyway, so just as well get the buggers out and make use of them.

[j j m 6,533]

well done mate

[watchman 256]

watched a guy on "beyond river cottage"yesterday remove a nest and relocated it on good old hughes property,when he emptied the box it was onto a sloping plank of wood up to the hive apparently they like to travel up hill to get in,interesting stuff

["Earth!" 503]

Have a pest controoler friend out tomorrow to sadly kill a huge swarm that have made residence in a block of elderly peoples flats. sadly no way of getting to the colony to remove them.

[Holdaway 2]

Nice to see John, well done. I wish more people would take the hard option and think of the bee first, a little (lot?) more work but well worth the effort.

 

H

[J Darcy 5,871]

Top class!

[skycat 6,173]

How long do you reckon it takes a colony to establish themselves somewhere new? I mean, they have to find new food, learn the geography of the surrounding area etc etc.

[DogMagic 461]

John, where did you get the bee vac from mate?

[John Keswick 119]

The bee vac is my own design and made by me "in england"

 

Skycat, bees are "established" one they have eggs in the comb.

 

Obviously a swarm which has just arrived somewhere has no comb so they need to make it, and they make it FAST!

Before a colony decides to swarm, they gorge themselves on honey which is the fuel they will use to start comb building.

When i hive a swarm on fresh foundation frames, they will draw the comb out overnight, depending on the size of the swarm. Its quite impressive to see.

 

I have a rather "large" colony at the moment (thats an understatment), they can draw a full honey box of comb and fill it with honey in a week. The boxes are probably too heavy for most people to lift when filled

[Phil Lloyd 10,738]

Good job there John,...

 

Err,..not trying to be a pain,..but, your new Bee Vac thingy,...

 

Err, please could I have my ferret box back,...preferably with the carrying strap fixed on,..

[John Keswick 119]

umm it may have more ventilation holes than normal

[trappa 517]

First class mate. Thats what i call a win/win scenario.

[IanB 0]

The bee vac is my own design and made by me "in england"

 

Skycat, bees are "established" one they have eggs in the comb.

 

Obviously a swarm which has just arrived somewhere has no comb so they need to make it, and they make it FAST!

Before a colony decides to swarm, they gorge themselves on honey which is the fuel they will use to start comb building.

When i hive a swarm on fresh foundation frames, they will draw the comb out overnight, depending on the size of the swarm. Its quite impressive to see.

 

I have a rather "large" colony at the moment (thats an understatment), they can draw a full honey box of comb and fill it with honey in a week. The boxes are probably too heavy for most people to lift when filled

 

 

Job well done John, good to see someone with a good understanding of what they do and professional with it ...