A pleasant surprise to find a swarm settling in the swarm trap! We used a pheromone lure and voila---success. I wonder how far away they can detect the pheromone. There is a possibility that it may have been from one of our own hives or that it may be from the bee yard of a fellow about a mile or so away. Regardless, it’s pretty cool and fascinating to see. Having been up close and personal to swarms it’s quite interesting to see how they work as one to protect the queen and how calm and focused they are to their task. However unnerving, you can get crazily close without danger. What truth might there be in this old English poem?
A swarm of bees in May is worth a load of hay;
A swarm of bees in June is worth a silver spoon;
A swarm of bees in July is hardly worth a fly.