Mice! Posted June 14, 2020 Report Share Posted June 14, 2020 Spent yesterday out on the bike looking for a friends lost dog, she ran off last week and has been on the loose since, few sightings each day, she's now crossed the M6 and the M61, how she's got away with that I don't know. I went through a few woods she might have gone to ground in, nothing but squirrels and rabbits. Just about to go into a wood and I nearly came a cropper, just looked up in time. They looked like leaf cutter bees but I didn't think they swarmed like this? Got close enough took some pictures and backed up fast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twenty Posted June 14, 2020 Report Share Posted June 14, 2020 Wow........nice swarm........hope you find the dog. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker570 Posted June 14, 2020 Report Share Posted June 14, 2020 (edited) Did you notify a bee keeper, that is a great swarm and worth a few bob. Rarely will swarming bees want to sting you, they fill up with honey ready to start a new colony and follow the queen until she decideds where to set up home. Yes if you crashed into it you might get stung so you had a lucky day. The police normally keep a record of all local beekeepers willing to pick up swarms and with modern mobile phones it is handy to have a number on your phone, certainly with us being out and about in the countryside. There is an old saying, which I think said a swarm in May will make hay, a swarm in in June .....can't remeber the jingle for that month but a swarm in July let it go by. I know there are other local ditties as well. The reason for a swarm in July being almost worthless is that the bees have to build up for the winter and they have less time to do it. But that is a cracking swarm and if closer to me I would have been out with a cardboard box no problem and my beekeeper would be overjoyed. Result of dog search Edited June 14, 2020 by Walker570 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old'un Posted June 14, 2020 Report Share Posted June 14, 2020 Get in touch with your local bee keeper, he will be grateful for a swarm that big, worth a few bob once settled into a hive. You could always start bee keeping yourself, if you have somewhere for a hive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moondoggy Posted June 14, 2020 Report Share Posted June 14, 2020 (edited) They will not stay there, swarms frequently rest up. The scout bees will find a new suitable location and guide the swarm, usually in the region of 20,000 bees (unless it is a secondary swarm) the queen will follow. The queen only leaves the hive twice in her life, first on her mating flight, the second when the bees swarm. If you go back in a day or so, they will be gone. If they were to stay there, the colony would die off. They cannot survive outside. The queen plays no part in deciding whether the colony swarms or where they go. It is the worker bees that make all of the decisions regarding the colony. The queen is purely there to lay eggs. It is a common misconception that that queen rules the hive, she doesn’t and the colony will think nothing of killing her if she fails to perform in her task. Worker bees can raise a new queen whenever they choose by taking any fertilised egg and building a queen cell around it, they feed they larvae on Royal Jelly for a longer period and that makes her grow into a queen bee 🐝 Edited June 14, 2020 by moondoggy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mice! Posted June 14, 2020 Author Report Share Posted June 14, 2020 31 minutes ago, Walker570 said: Did you notify a bee keeper, that is a great swarm and worth a few bob. 30 minutes ago, old'un said: Get in touch with your local bee keeper, he will be grateful for a swarm that big, worth a few bob once settled into a hive. I didn't give it a thought, I just went around it and into the wood looking for the dog, came out with a puncture 😥 55 minutes ago, twenty said: Wow........nice swarm........hope you find the dog. Cheers. 34 minutes ago, Walker570 said: Result of dog search Still out there, she's been chased by 'helpful' people a few times and is bolting as soon as she sets eyes on people unfortunately. There have been loads of people out searching, but a beagle on the run is giving everyone the slip. 8 minutes ago, moondoggy said: They will not stay there, swarms frequently rest up. The scout bees will find a new suitable location and guide the swarm, usually in the region of 20,000 bees (unless it is a secondary swarm) the queen will follow. The queen only leaves the hive twice in her life, first on her mating flight, the second when the bees swarm. If you go back in a day or so, they will be gone. If they were to stay there, the colony would die off. They cannot survive outside. The queen plays no part in deciding whether the colony swarms or where they go. It is the worker bees that make all of the decisions regarding the colony. The queen is purely there to lay eggs. It is a common misconception that that queen rules the hive, she doesn’t and the colony will think nothing of killing her if she fails to perform in her task. Worker bees can raise a new queen whenever they choose by taking any fertilised egg and building a queen cell around it, they feed they larvae on Royal Jelly for a longer period and that makes her grow into a queen bee 🐝 Cheers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stoggieman Posted June 14, 2020 Report Share Posted June 14, 2020 A swarm of bees in may is worth a load of hay . A swarm of bees in june is worth a silver spoon But a swarm of bees in july is,nt worth a fly . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remimax Posted June 14, 2020 Report Share Posted June 14, 2020 Thats an impressive swarm ,sisters rescue springer went on the run for 5 days no one could get near it. belonged to an old guy so don't think it went out much. certainly made up for it. never left the farm after they got it back think he had a bit of a hungry scare Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7daysinaweek Posted June 14, 2020 Report Share Posted June 14, 2020 Wow! That is an impressive sight, I can also understand why it made yer pull up quickly. I hope the dog gets reunited quickly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker570 Posted June 14, 2020 Report Share Posted June 14, 2020 1 hour ago, moondoggy said: They will not stay there, swarms frequently rest up. The scout bees will find a new suitable location and guide the swarm, usually in the region of 20,000 bees (unless it is a secondary swarm) the queen will follow. The queen only leaves the hive twice in her life, first on her mating flight, the second when the bees swarm. If you go back in a day or so, they will be gone. If they were to stay there, the colony would die off. They cannot survive outside. The queen plays no part in deciding whether the colony swarms or where they go. It is the worker bees that make all of the decisions regarding the colony. The queen is purely there to lay eggs. It is a common misconception that that queen rules the hive, she doesn’t and the colony will think nothing of killing her if she fails to perform in her task. Worker bees can raise a new queen whenever they choose by taking any fertilised egg and building a queen cell around it, they feed they larvae on Royal Jelly for a longer period and that makes her grow into a queen bee 🐝 Exactly. I was out last week and I noticed a lot of bee activity around an old oak tree. Carefully had a look and they had settled in a hole in the trunk about two thirds of them where already in. I was surrounded by bees but they where just interested in getting into their new home and made no move to attack me. Unlike a hive my beekeeper has in my wood at the moment. I fear that a mouse may have got in or the hive is being attacked by wasps because they have become VERY protective. Lucky not to have been stung but a couple did hit me hard. Hope that beagle is rounded up. They do have minds of their own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discobob Posted June 15, 2020 Report Share Posted June 15, 2020 14 hours ago, moondoggy said: It is a common misconception that that queen rules the hive, she doesn’t and the colony will think nothing of killing her if she fails to perform in her task. We should apply this rule to politicians!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmicblue Posted June 15, 2020 Report Share Posted June 15, 2020 14 hours ago, moondoggy said: They will not stay there, swarms frequently rest up. The scout bees will find a new suitable location and guide the swarm, usually in the region of 20,000 bees (unless it is a secondary swarm) the queen will follow. The queen only leaves the hive twice in her life, first on her mating flight, the second when the bees swarm. If you go back in a day or so, they will be gone. If they were to stay there, the colony would die off. They cannot survive outside. The queen plays no part in deciding whether the colony swarms or where they go. It is the worker bees that make all of the decisions regarding the colony. The queen is purely there to lay eggs. It is a common misconception that that queen rules the hive, she doesn’t and the colony will think nothing of killing her if she fails to perform in her task. Worker bees can raise a new queen whenever they choose by taking any fertilised egg and building a queen cell around it, they feed they larvae on Royal Jelly for a longer period and that makes her grow into a queen bee 🐝 Fascinating, thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moondoggy Posted June 15, 2020 Report Share Posted June 15, 2020 1 hour ago, discobob said: We should apply this rule to politicians!!! We would have no politicians left! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discobob Posted June 15, 2020 Report Share Posted June 15, 2020 33 minutes ago, moondoggy said: We would have no politicians left! Perhaps some will remember what they are there for Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted June 15, 2020 Report Share Posted June 15, 2020 Beagle will be having lots of fun, plenty of food around for it to catch and eat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Agriv8 Posted June 15, 2020 Report Share Posted June 15, 2020 June last year these holed up for the evening they we gone the next morning. Very impressive to watch but was wary about getting too close. Regards Agriv8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mice! Posted June 19, 2020 Author Report Share Posted June 19, 2020 Well after 9 days the beagles has been found, there was a big search on the cards for tomorrow but the area to be searched has cows and new calves in the fields. A snap decision to do a search today, 50 people and 10 beagles went out and within 20 minutes she was found, in the same area she had been around for days. Now spending the night at the vets, but as you can imagine the family are thrilled. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AVB Posted June 19, 2020 Report Share Posted June 19, 2020 12 minutes ago, Mice! said: Well after 9 days the beagles has been found, there was a big search on the cards for tomorrow but the area to be searched has cows and new calves in the fields. A snap decision to do a search today, 50 people and 10 beagles went out and within 20 minutes she was found, in the same area she had been around for days. Now spending the night at the vets, but as you can imagine the family are thrilled. Great news 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mice! Posted June 20, 2020 Author Report Share Posted June 20, 2020 12 hours ago, AVB said: Great news 👍 Apparently a broken leg from a car hitting her, bit of good news certainly makes a nice change. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dead eye alan Posted June 20, 2020 Report Share Posted June 20, 2020 On 14/06/2020 at 20:41, moondoggy said: They will not stay there, swarms frequently rest up. The scout bees will find a new suitable location and guide the swarm, usually in the region of 20,000 bees (unless it is a secondary swarm) the queen will follow. The queen only leaves the hive twice in her life, first on her mating flight, the second when the bees swarm. If you go back in a day or so, they will be gone. If they were to stay there, the colony would die off. They cannot survive outside. The queen plays no part in deciding whether the colony swarms or where they go. It is the worker bees that make all of the decisions regarding the colony. The queen is purely there to lay eggs. It is a common misconception that that queen rules the hive, she doesn’t and the colony will think nothing of killing her if she fails to perform in her task. Worker bees can raise a new queen whenever they choose by taking any fertilised egg and building a queen cell around it, they feed they larvae on Royal Jelly for a longer period and that makes her grow into a queen bee 🐝 Thanks for that information very informative. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
12gauge82 Posted June 20, 2020 Report Share Posted June 20, 2020 19 hours ago, Mice! said: Well after 9 days the beagles has been found, there was a big search on the cards for tomorrow but the area to be searched has cows and new calves in the fields. A snap decision to do a search today, 50 people and 10 beagles went out and within 20 minutes she was found, in the same area she had been around for days. Now spending the night at the vets, but as you can imagine the family are thrilled. This is fantastic news, nothing worse than a missing member of the family Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buckster Posted June 20, 2020 Report Share Posted June 20, 2020 10 hours ago, Mice! said: Apparently a broken leg from a car hitting her, bit of good news certainly makes a nice change. She is one lucky dog, especially as it was on the M61 where she was hit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mad1 Posted June 20, 2020 Report Share Posted June 20, 2020 Great news to hear you found the missing dog !!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mice! Posted June 20, 2020 Author Report Share Posted June 20, 2020 46 minutes ago, Buckster said: She is one lucky dog, especially as it was on the M61 where she was hit. Luckily it's been pretty quiet lately, must admit I expected her to have laid up injured and not been found, found just off the slip road as well. Junc 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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