This season, we have elected to increase the number of colonies using the old-fashioned beekeeping techniques of luring and trapping swarms, relocating colonies from undesirable locations, and by dividing our colonies. The goal is to double the number of colonies we have with an aim of producing 300 pounds of honey this year and 500# next year.
If you are at the Church and look to the north, you will see a white swarm trap in a tree at the edge of the parking lot. This trap is made up of a box of a size and configuration thought to be desirable to swarming bees. Inside we have placed some old honeycomb and some new empty frames. We have also placed a scent lure inside. The hope is that scout bees from any swarms in the area will find the box, go inside, and decide to go and tell the rest of the swarm that they have found a new home.
We have also undertaken to remove one colony from a home in Manassas this weekend. The colony had made its home in the basement ceiling and had been there for several years. Using our new DIY bee vacuum we were able to collect 90+ percent of the bees in the colony and relocate them to our apiary. With a little luck, these bees will acclimate to their new surroundings, and we will have a new productive colony. These bees bring new genetic diversity to the area around our apiary. This is a good thing because they were both gentle and had managed to survive and thrive without pest treatments. Here is a picture of the colony before removal.
All our colonies are thriving and growing quickly despite the on again, off again warm weather with lots of rain. We are expecting that they will do what healthy bees do, and that is swarm. To prevent our bees from wandering off, we will preemptively divide the colonies when we see signs that the bees are preparing to swarm. These signs include increased drone populations, and preparations for making a replacement queen.