Split #2 From Colony Square

Thursday morning last week I had some time to go to Jeff and Valerie's for the second split of Colony Square.  This time I was all by myself.  I set up the nuc box and put the bungee cords under it for transportation purposes.  I had cut the window screen to size.  I was READY.

I suited up, lit and packed the smoker well, and opened up Colony Square.  I saw lots of queen cells - these bees want to swarm and may despite these two splits.  I used two medium nucs for this split.  I put five frames in the bottom box, mostly brood, eggs, and larvae.  I shook two more frames of nurse bees in, for good measure.  I put two frames of honey and pollen in the top box.

I bungee corded the whole thing together, stuffed the screened wire in the entry (I'm terrified of the staple gun and I didn't have anyone else with me to do it.)  Then I headed for the car.

I carefully put the nuc into the car, jumped in still in my bee suit because I only had about 45 minutes before my next appointment at my office (25 minutes away) and started driving.

As I drove I began to be aware of a steady buzzing in the back of the car that was increasing in volume.  In the rear view window I could see a mass of bees gathering on my back window.

When I arrived at my house, it was evident that the bees had easily pushed openings in the non-stapled screen over the entry and were gathering on the front of the nuc.  Undaunted, I gently used my gloved hands to lift the nuc and carry it to the backyard.  I walked slowly, hoping the loose bees would take the hint and come too.

Once in back of the house, I quickly moved the frames into an 8 frame medium box, waiting for their arrival.







Within minutes the bees were moved into their new home and I was ready to strip off my suit and head back for the office.  I only had 20 minutes before my next appointment.

I ran into the house, shedding my beesuit as I went.  I straightened up my outfit a little, put on my work shoes, and drove to my office.  My car was FULL of bees from the escapees who had refused to move to the backyard.



At the office I left the windows down to encourage their escape.  The bees were still there two hours later when I returned to the car.  Once home again, I used my bee brush and a mixing bowl to move the bees in several trips from car to hive box.

Later that day I found a clump of bees gathered on my mailbox.  I employed the brush and mixing bowl and a towel to cover to move them to the new hive.

When I told my brother the story, he said, "I know what you need to do, Linda….you should go into therapy to conquer your fear of staple guns!"

I think he's right.