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40 Search results for: swarm
Episodes (20)Videos (20)

Episodes

After The Swarm (082)

July 14, 2022
Swarm season is fun and exhilarating. Much has been written about swarms. They’ve been studied, photographed, pursued and just… watched. But what does the beekeeper do with the parent colony the next day? What do they do with the swarm after...
After The Swarm (082)

Capturing and Hiving Swarms (067)

March 31, 2022
A beekeeper's most exciting moment is undoubtedly, capturing and hiving a swarm... especially when it is someone else's bees! In today episode, Jim Tew and Jeff Ott - who is filling in for Kim Flottum this week - discuss capturing swarms and how you…
Capturing and Hiving Swarms (067)

New Swarms On Deadout Comb? (050)

Dec. 2, 2021
Can You Put New Swarms on Old Comb? You’ve caught your first swarm. Where should it go? You don’t have any new equipment to put it on, but you have an overwintered colony that didn’t make it. Can you use the combs from that colony? Always the...
New Swarms On Deadout Comb?  (050)

Plain Talk: A Small June Swarm (184)

June 20, 2024
In this episode, Jim Tew delves into the fascinating world of swarming behavior. Jim shares his experiences with swarms moving into winter-killed colonies, highlighting how these free bees can effectively clean up and rejuvenate old equipment. He...
Plain Talk: A Small June Swarm (184)

Plain Talk: Packages and Swarms (281)

April 30, 2026
Jim Tew shares a real-time look at managing packages, unexpected colony survival, and a surprise swarm—highlighting the unpredictability and practical lessons of beekeeping.
Plain Talk: Packages and Swarms (281)

Plain Talk: Predicting Swarms (232)

May 22, 2025
In this episode of Honey Bee Obscura, Jim is back in the bee yard with a keen eye on an abandoned hive setup—watching and wondering if it might be chosen by a honey bee swarm. What starts as a quiet observation of scout bee behavior turns into a rea…
Plain Talk: Predicting Swarms (232)

Plain Talk: The Wayward Swarm, Part 2 (282)

May 7, 2026
Jim Tew shares a real-time account of attempting to capture a difficult swarm, reflecting on swarm behavior, beekeeper decision-making, and the importance of knowing when to step back.
Plain Talk: The Wayward Swarm, Part 2 (282)

Small Swarm, Revisited (190)

Aug. 1, 2024
In this episode, Jim revisits a small swarm he first discussed in June. As he inspects the colony, Jim shares his observations and strategies for nurturing this struggling swarm. Despite initial doubts, the colony has grown significantly,...
Small Swarm, Revisited (190)

Swarm Traps aka Bait Hives (066)

March 24, 2022
In today's episode, Jim Tew and Jeff Ott (who's stepping in this week for Kim Flottum) discuss their experiences using swarm traps - sometimes called "bait hives". Swarm traps are used by beekeepers to lure the scout bees looking for a new home. The…
Swarm Traps aka Bait Hives (066)

The Wayward Swarm, Part 4 (284)

May 21, 2026
The “Wayward Swarm” saga finally comes to an end as Jim Tew and Jason Ferrell inspect the troubled colony after weeks of uncertainty. Despite cold weather, overloaded trap cages, ladder mishaps, and multiple setbacks, the queen survived and the colo…
The Wayward Swarm, Part 4 (284)

Vanishing Swarms: Now You See Them, Now You Don't! (127)

May 25, 2023
If you've been a beekeeper for any length of time and especially, after your first year in your own bee yard, you've seen a swarm, looked away to pick up something - maybe your camera, turn around and they're gone! Just like that. Swarms are simply.…
Vanishing Swarms: Now You See Them, Now You Don't! (127)

Well... It Depends - Swarms (124)

May 4, 2023
A lot of times, when somebody asks us a bee question, the best answer we can give them is, “It Depends.” In today’s episode, Kim and Jim explore the topic of Swarms. Where did it come from? Where do you put it? What do you do with the queen?...
Well... It Depends - Swarms (124)

Swarms (014)

March 25, 2021
Have you ever tried to capture a swarm while hanging on to the top of a 10-foot ladder that’s standing in the back of a pickup? No? Well, Jim Tew has and he’ll tell you all about retrieving swarms this week. Kim Flottum has a story about Richard...
Swarms  (014)

Late Season Swarms with Anne Frey (244)

Aug. 14, 2025
Late season swarms can puzzle even experienced beekeepers. In this episode, Jim Tew welcomes Anne Frey of Betterbee to explore why colonies sometimes issue swarms in August—or even September—long after the spring swarming sea...
Late Season Swarms with Anne Frey (244)

Plain Talk: Mystery Swarm (246)

Aug. 28, 2025
In this episode of Honey Bee Obscura , Jim Tew recounts an unexpected August swarm that turned a normal day into a beekeeping puzzle. What began as a routine check for a groundhog problem quickly spiraled into a surprise disc...
Plain Talk: Mystery Swarm (246)

Plain Talk: The Lost Swarm (234)

June 5, 2025
In this reflective episode of Honey Bee Obscura, Jim Tew shares the frustration and lessons learned from losing a swarm — a reminder that even seasoned beekeepers face humbling moments. Jim recounts how an unusually strong co...
Plain Talk: The Lost Swarm (234)

The Wayward Swarm, Part 3 (283)

May 14, 2026
In this third installment of The Wayward Swarm , Jim Tew returns to the now-infamous swarm hanging high in a tree after days of cold rain and falling temperatures. Joined by longtime beekeeper friend Jason Ferrell, Jim attemp...
The Wayward Swarm, Part 3 (283)

Managing Mid-Summer Splits (133)

July 6, 2023
In this episode, Kim and Jim discuss the pros and cons of mid-summer splits. Are they good or are they bad? It can go both ways. Mid-summer splits are used to divide a colony for swarm prevention, colony expansion, or the equalization of colony...
Managing Mid-Summer Splits (133)

Plain Talk: Five Nice Hives (286)

June 4, 2026
Jim Tew returns to the bee yard to inspect five package colonies installed earlier in the spring. The colonies are thriving and rapidly filling their equipment, prompting a discussion about colony growth, swarm prevention, and the need for additiona…
Plain Talk: Five Nice Hives (286)

Plain Talk: Tall Grass In The Bee Yard (287)

June 11, 2026
In this personal episode of Honey Bee Obscura, Dr. Jim Tew reflects on the realities of maintaining an apiary later in life. Faced with waist-high grass, summer heat, allergies, and thirteen thriving colonies, Jim explores how beekeeping changes as …
Plain Talk: Tall Grass In The Bee Yard (287)

Videos

After The Swarm (082)

Nov. 3, 2022
Swarm season is fun and exhilarating. Much has been written about swarms. They’ve been studied, photographed, pursued and just… watched. But what does the beekeeper do with the parent colony the next day? What do they do with the swarm after they’ve…
After The Swarm (082)

Capturing and Hiving Swarms (067)

Nov. 3, 2022
A beekeeper's most exciting moment is undoubtedly, capturing and hiving a swarm... especially when it is someone else's bees! In today episode, Jim Tew and Jeff Ott - who is filling in for Kim Flottum this week - discuss capturing swarms and how you…
Capturing and Hiving Swarms (067)

Late Season Swarms with Anne Frey (244)

Aug. 14, 2025
Late season swarms can puzzle even experienced beekeepers. In this episode, Jim Tew welcomes Anne Frey of Betterbee to explore why colonies sometimes issue swarms in August—or even September—long after the spring swarming season has passed. Are thes…
Late Season Swarms with Anne Frey (244)

New Swarms On Deadout Comb? (050)

Oct. 31, 2022
Can You Put New Swarms on Old Comb?You’ve caught your first swarm. Where should it go? You don’t have any new equipment to put it on, but you have an overwintered colony that didn’t make it. Can you use the combs from that colony? Always the be…
New Swarms On Deadout Comb?  (050)

Plain Talk: A Small June Swarm

June 20, 2024
In this episode, Jim Tew delves into the fascinating world of swarming behavior. Jim shares his experiences with swarms moving into winter-killed colonies, highlighting how these free bees can effectively clean up and rejuvenate old equipment. He di…
Plain Talk: A Small June Swarm

Plain Talk: Mystery Swarm (246)

Aug. 28, 2025
In this episode of Honey Bee Obscura, Jim Tew recounts an unexpected August swarm that turned a normal day into a beekeeping puzzle. What began as a routine check for a groundhog problem quickly spiraled into a surprise discovery: a swarm squeezed i…
Plain Talk: Mystery Swarm (246)

Plain Talk: Packages and Swarms (281)

April 30, 2026
In this episode of Honey Bee Obscura, Jim Tew brings listeners along for a raw, unfiltered walk through his apiary during one of beekeeping’s most unpredictable seasons.After expecting significant winter losses, Jim ordered five packages—only t…
Plain Talk: Packages and Swarms (281)

Plain Talk: Predicting Swarms (232)

May 22, 2025
In this episode of Honey Bee Obscura, Jim is back in the bee yard with a keen eye on an abandoned hive setup—watching and wondering if it might be chosen by a swarm. What starts as a quiet observation of scout bee behavior turns into a real-time cas…
Plain Talk: Predicting Swarms (232)

Plain Talk: The Lost Swarm (234)

June 5, 2025
In this reflective episode of Honey Bee Obscura, Jim Tew shares the frustration and lessons learned from losing a swarm — a reminder that even seasoned beekeepers face humbling moments. Jim recounts how an unusually strong colony, coupled with a bus…
Plain Talk: The Lost Swarm (234)

Plain Talk: The Wayward Swarm, Part 1 (282)

May 7, 2026
In this episode of Honey Bee Obscura, Jim Tew delivers a candid, field-side reflection on the challenges—and realities—of swarm management when conditions, equipment, and personal limitations don’t align.What begins as a routine observation qui…
Plain Talk: The Wayward Swarm, Part 1 (282)

Small Swarm, Revisited (190)

Aug. 1, 2024
In this episode, Jim revisits a small swarm he first discussed in June. As he inspects the colony, Jim shares his observations and strategies for nurturing this struggling swarm. Despite initial doubts, the colony has grown significantly, demonstrat…
Small Swarm, Revisited (190)

Swarm Bees Scenting

Nov. 3, 2022
Scenting is a critical part of the colony's swarming success!
Swarm Bees Scenting

Swarm Traps aka Bait Hives (066)

Nov. 3, 2022
In today's episode, Jim Tew and Jeff Ott (who's stepping in this week for Kim Flottum) discuss their experiences using swarm traps - sometimes called "bait hives". Swarm traps are used by beekeepers to lure the scout bees looking for a new home.…
Swarm Traps aka Bait Hives (066)

The Wayward Swarm, Part 3 (283)

May 14, 2026
In this third installment of The Wayward Swarm, Jim Tew returns to the now-infamous swarm hanging high in a tree after days of cold rain and falling temperatures. Joined by longtime beekeeper friend Jason Ferrell, Jim attempts one final rescue effor…
The Wayward Swarm, Part 3 (283)

The Wayward Swarm, Part 4 (284)

May 21, 2026
In this final installment of the “Wayward Swarm” saga, Dr. Jim Tew and Jason Ferrell return to the colony that has caused more trouble, worry, and excitement than either expected. After multiple attempts to recover and hive the swarm — including lad…
The Wayward Swarm, Part 4 (284)

Vanishing Swarms: Now You See Them, Now You Don't! (127)

May 25, 2023
If you've been a beekeeper for any length of time and especially, after your first year in your own bee yard, you've seen a swarm, looked away to pick up something - maybe your camera, turn around and they're gone! Just like that.Swarms are sim…
Vanishing Swarms: Now You See Them, Now You Don't! (127)

Well... It Depends - Swarms (124)

May 4, 2023
A lot of times, when somebody asks us a bee question, the best answer we can give them is, “It Depends.”In today’s episode, Kim and Jim explore the topic of Swarms. Where did it come from? Where do you put it? What do you do with the queen? Sho…
Well... It Depends - Swarms (124)

Archive Replay - Removing Honey with Kim Flottum (243)

Aug. 7, 2025
When it comes time to remove honey from your colonies, the job can feel like one of the most physically demanding tasks of the beekeeping season. In this Honey Bee Obscura archive special from September 2022, hosts Kim Flottum and Jim Tew revisit th…
Archive Replay - Removing Honey with Kim Flottum (243)

Archive Special: Dealing with Yellow Jackets (146)

Sept. 28, 2023
(This Archive Special first released, September 2, 2021.) Beekeepers are very often asked to help friends or neighbors that have “bee” problems…. honey bees, carpenter bees, yellow jackets, hornets, bumblebees and the like. But most of us aren’t ex…
Archive Special: Dealing with Yellow Jackets (146)

Dealing With Feisty Bees (075)

Nov. 3, 2022
Jim’s beeyard is the center of attention this week, because his bees were bothering his wife and a very patient, longtime neighbor. That’s not a good thing. So, exasperated, Jim asks Kim for his ideas about all that was going on and to help figure o…
Dealing With Feisty Bees (075)
Honey Bee Obscura Podcast

Short, plain talk about all things honey bees with host Jim Tew and guests.

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