Natural Beekeeping Network

[zaunreiter]

Hi,

yesterday I observed a swarm moving in into a tree, which now has become a "bee tree".

The tree is about 10-15 metres high and 90cm in diameter. The entrance consists of a few entry holes which are very small. The entrance is located at the lower part of the tree in 1 metre height. The entrance is at the lowest part of the hollow. The entrance is facing East. The hollow maybe 20cm in diameter and a couple of metres long.

Interestingly enough the entrance is overgrown with a small elder, blackberries and stinging nettles. Must have been jungle scout bees, which have find the path through all the leaves and such.

Photos and reports will follow. I'll compare flight activity, pollen income and such with my Warre hives.

Bernhard
_________________
~ ubi apis, ibi salus ~

(latin: where bees, there health)

[GarlyDog]

That's great! I can't wait to hear your future reports. Keep us posted.
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Gary

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[Cheryl]

Neat to have a feral bee-tree hive right where you can observe it! Good study material, and hopefully good swarm catching!!
_________________
We are what we repeatedly do.
Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.
~ Aristotle

[zaunreiter]

The next day I was a bit surprised to see no flight activity at all. Could have been the time of day, because it was a bit later. All other bee hives, including fresh catched swarms, showed activity at that time. I thought, the bees did abscond. But yesterday they were flying! Interesting, maybe they needed to clean up the inside of their hollow? Chewing out rotten wood?

Anyway, I'm happy they stayed. I will post pictures later.

Bernhard
_________________
~ ubi apis, ibi salus ~

(latin: where bees, there health)

[biobee]