African bees don't like their hive

I got a swarm in my lime tree yesterday. I've been waiting for this moment, so at night I gently cut the branch and placed it in a hive that I had ready. I placed the hive under a tree a few hundred feet away. Perfect, right?

I closed the entrance with screen,  but apparently there's one tiny wrinkle in the screen big enough for one bee to squeeze out. This morning half the swarm was back in the lime tree. Well, kind of. Now they're clinging to a clay water jar under the tree.

This is Africa. The hive is from the US with artifical foundation.  Could there be a compatibility issue?

I cant help with you question other than they less particular about nesting sites.

I have always heard African bees are very aggressive so I would stay away from them as much as possible.

is temperature an issue? I know here in Brazil many insects that are usually down on the ground would rather be up in trees, on posts, etc (thinking ants, termites, etc).  Could shade be an issue?

Thanks for the replies. I think height and temperature might be an issue; local bees are always high up in tree trunks.

In other parts of the country people raise local bees in holes or logs that the attach in a tree. But I was hoping I could use a hive with frames...

Does your artificial foundation have a beeswax coating? Adding a thin layer of wax &/or a couple drops of lemongrass or peppermint oil inside the hive might help keep them inside long enough to consider it home.

Mike Barkley wrote:Does your artificial foundation have a beeswax coating? Adding a thin layer of wax &/or a couple drops of lemongrass or peppermint oil inside the hive might help keep them inside long enough to consider it home.

Thanks,  I added lemon grass oil today. Fingers crossed!

I need to edit the thread title to "African bees don't like their hive."

The day after I put the lemon grass oil in, they all abandoned the place. Gone, swarm in the tree and swarm in the hive. The following day was one of silence and sadness.

The third day we woke to the noise of swarming bees. And there they were, swarming the hive. A couple hours later they had moved in and were fanning the entrance! Maybe it was a different swarm than the first one, but it's roughly the same size.

Two days after that, they're still there, but I just remembered: I forgot that half the frames had been removed to put the swarm in and I had forgotten to replace them! Today I suited up and got my smoker ready. First time for me. I cracked the lid, gave it some smoke, and peaked inside...

The ENTIRE HIVE was making comb on the lid! Ok, a few were working on some frames, but after only two days there were four massive chunks of comb hanging there and they were actively making lots more, all linked together and very busy. There was even honey in some of it.

So I relit my smoker and began the very tedious task of removing the comb amidst a lot of bees very determined to keep hanging on and making more comb! I would remove a chunk and place it on a tray, trying not to lay it on top of the ones with their heads in there still trying to fill it with honey, and they would immediately gather and hang on the same spot of the lid to make more. Anyway, I felt really sorry for them as I pressed their lovely comb flat and laid it on the floor of the hive. I must confess that I kept one tiny piece with honey in it for my kids to taste.

I felt so badly for setting back their hard work that I didn't even go looking for the queen. I just replaced all the frames, smoked them off the rim of the hive (they were even trying to make comb there!)  and replaced the lid.

So I guess I'm a beekeeper now. How long till honey harvest?

Do you have any peers to help you on the way?
Why did you apply lemon Grass oil?

Good luck anyway.

John,  it was given to me as "bee pheromone". I do not have anyone local to help me.

And the bees absconded. I guess it was too much to cut down all that comb,  but i didn't think it was possible to leave it on the lid like that. It was even perpendicular to the other frames.

But they're gone and we're back to silence and sadness.

Also,  perhaps there's something about the foundation that is incompatible to local bees because they didn't touch any of it. Which makes me wonder if the queen was on some of that new comb when I cut it. The possibility seems criminal.

Any advice appreciated. Should I remove the comb that i left laying in the bottom?

There are still a handful of bees hanging around the place; could they possibly come back again? I removed the foundation from 3 frames so that they could start from scratch there if they prefer.

Sounds like you didn't have much choice except to remove the burr comb from the lid if you ever wanted to access the inside again. Bees can work extremely fast filling empty spaces. It can become a tangled mess that only a bee can appreciate. Frames & foundation are for human needs not for the bees needs.

I suggest removing the old comb from the floor. Melt it down & use a paintbrush to add a thin layer to the artificial foundations. Then install all the frames back into the hive. Don't beat yourself up over forgetting. Consider it a lesson learned the hard way & move on. It seems there is plenty of bee activity near you so I think you'll have more soon.

About honey harvest ... since I don't know anything about your seasons or pollen availability throughout the year just remember that is the bee food supply. Harvest very sparingly & only after they are well established with a large honey supply.

Good luck. You got this!!!

Mike Barkley wrote:Sounds like you didn't have much choice except to remove the burr comb from the lid if you ever wanted to access the inside again. Bees can work extremely fast filling empty spaces. It can become a tangled mess that only a bee can appreciate. Frames & foundation are for human needs not for the bees needs.

I suggest removing the old comb from the floor. Melt it down & use a paintbrush to add a thin layer to the artificial foundations. Then install all the frames back into the hive. Don't beat yourself up over forgetting. Consider it a lesson learned the hard way & move on. It seems there is plenty of bee activity near you so I think you'll have more soon.

About honey harvest ... since I don't know anything about your seasons or pollen availability throughout the year just remember that is the bee food supply. Harvest very sparingly & only after they are well established with a large honey supply.

Good luck. You got this!!!

Thanks for the encouragement Mike. Would it make sense to leave 4 frames or so without foundation so a swarm can choose?

Nat, have a look here
https://beekeepingforum.co.uk/

No. Install the frames with foundation. A swarm will still move in. If you capture a swarm somewhere else just place them on top of the frames with the cover removed. Add the cover once they get inside. Working with no foundations is more suited for experienced beekeepers.

Mike Barkley wrote:No. Install the frames with foundation. A swarm will still move in. If you capture a swarm somewhere else just place them on top of the frames with the cover removed. Add the cover once they get inside. Working with no foundations is more suited for experienced beekeepers.

Of I had only known...

I'm a beekeeper again. A swarm moved in and they are busy busy. This time I'm taking the do-absolutely-nothing-for-quite-awhile strategy.

That's probably the best approach Nathanael. The bees know what they're doing. As long as they have access to nectar & water they will probably be fine.

Generally leave a new swarm alone for a few weeks so they become accustomed to the new location. Much less likely to abscond.

I have had to cut comb off a lid as well. What a messy job!

They were super busy the first couple days; I saw a lot of pollen going in. Then the third day I thought they had absconded again because the entrance was deserted. But I put my ear up to it and there was quite a humming going on. Making comb I presume? Now, few days later,  there's low activity at the entrance. A bee leaves or enters maybe every 20 seconds or so.

It might be temperature related. When it is warmer some will hang out on the porch to lessen the body heat inside. The opposite when it is cooler. Don't panic. Seeing one enter or leave every 20 seconds is no cause for alarm.

Is your weather turning into spring or fall?

Joylynn Hardesty wrote:Is your weather turning into spring or fall?

We're turning to "fall", which here is just the end of rainy season. There are some fruit trees that produce in the middle of dry season "winter", like mangos. So I think nectar will still be available.

Oh, good! No need for emergency feeding of sugar. Here, a newly started hive might starve over winter without help. Sugar isnt a good solution, but dead bees is a terrible outcome.

Joylynn Hardesty wrote:Oh, good! No need for emergency feeding of sugar. Here, a newly started hive might starve over winter without help. Sugar isnt a good solution, but dead bees is a terrible outcome.

Yikes. This is swarming season here though, so I would trust there's a natural way to sustainability that behavior in the local ecology.

It's funny though because I'd prefer not to feed them sugar. My mom is intolerant to sugar, and she reacts even if honey isn't 100% nectar. She's a living honey purity tester!

Since it's swarming season there you can be confident they will have food sources.