I’ve done my share of trap-outs. The process takes some patience and can turn in to a season-long ordeal if you let it. However, here’s a case where the tree was taken down, and the portion with the bees in it was closed up and moved to our meeting place to reside until it was time to hive them. On a Sat. in May, a group of us met and split it open. You’d think tearing into a log with a loud, smokey chain saw, then driving some wedges in to split it open would have them all riled up, but it went very smooth and the bees were surprisingly calm.
The combs were them cut to fit into Langstroth frames, and rubber bands were used to hold them in place until the bees propolized them in to place. First the stages of brood were placed in the center, then pollen frames, and finally honey on the sides and above in the top box. Of course, there was some leftover comb for people to sample. Enjoy some photos taken by my friend, and fellow beekeeper, Jimmy Kinker.
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