Second Swarm?

[gmau...@earthlink.net]

Last year I reported to this group what was believed to be the first swarm of the year for '25.  I must be slipping...  This year I am reporting what is believe to be the SECOND swarm of the year... for '26.

Swarm was caught from a tree directly across the street from my house.  People that saw the swarm arrive said that it came from an open air hive in a tree about 30feet away (see pics).  The swarm is really tiny and unlikely to survive the rest of our cold period and was given to Sister Barbara who, if it's queenless, will combine with another of her colonies.

Get your Swarm Catching Kits together!!  It's happening!  While last year was not a great queen rearing year for me (poor yield on mated queen returns) it was a very good swarm year for me.  I captured two and baited in three or four.  If you haven't caught or baited in a swarm  and would like to learn how... start by asking for help here, on the swarm list, or by cornering one of the safety yellow jacketed persons at the next club meeting.  There is always someone eager to help and it's a cool way to make new friends. 

[Gerald Przybylski]

If Sung's swarm January 2 (not via the swarm list, but direct to Sung)
is the first (for a club member,
then the Second is the tiny swarm from Pleasanton in a yard with a bee
tree on January 6.
It moved on before it could be posted.
Who knows how many swarm calls Sung has taken by now...  He has a
separate pipeline for alerts.

Congrats on Your first swarm of the season.

I second your recommendation for organizing your swarm kit and setting
up swarm traps soon.

I'm expecting, as usual. the swarm season will take off in the last week
or two of March!!
Keep in mind that colonies start the swarm organizing process a couple
of weeks before they swarm.

I found a hive in the yard that had  built bridge comb under the inner
cover and FILLED it with honey. Frames of Drone pupa inside too.
I caught it in time to reorganize it for the next month or two.
Moving honey, and pollen frames up into the supers, and drone frames too.
Moving frames of drawn worker-cell comb into the brood boxes adjacent to
the brood ball.
(The comb/honey scrapings went on top of the inner cover surrounded by a
box. They'll store the honey,
and I'll retrieve the wax later.

j

[Mimi]

It’s been my experience that both early season and late season swarms have higher rate of being “spicy”.   Has anyone else noticed that? Also in recent year the Queens around Pleasanton area has been black in color - gentle and black.  It’s the regular lighter yellow and black Queens who tend to be spicy.  

Mimi 

Sent from my iPhone

On Jan 16, 2026, at 1:16 PM, gmau...@earthlink.net <gmau...@earthlink.net> wrote:

Last year I reported to this group what was believed to be the first swarm of the year for '25.  I must be slipping...  This year I am reporting what is believe to be the SECOND swarm of the year... for '26.

Swarm was caught from a tree directly across the street from my house.  People that saw the swarm arrive said that it came from an open air hive in a tree about 30feet away (see pics).  The swarm is really tiny and unlikely to survive the rest of our cold period and was given to Sister Barbara who, if it's queenless, will combine with another of her colonies.

Get your Swarm Catching Kits together!!  It's happening!  While last year was not a great queen rearing year for me (poor yield on mated queen returns) it was a very good swarm year for me.  I captured two and baited in three or four.  If you haven't caught or baited in a swarm  and would like to learn how... start by asking for help here, on the swarm list, or by cornering one of the safety yellow jacketed persons at the next club meeting.  There is always someone eager to help and it's a cool way to make new friends. 

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[Philip von Furstenberg]

spicy noodles 

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