REGARDING           RE>Captured Swarm
 
Charles (Rick) Grubbs writes:
"Well I got my first swarm today. I had just finished installing 2 new
packages of bees, and went back into the house and my neighbor came and
told me that a swarm of bees had came out of a large oak tree on his
property and landed on his childrens swing set. My son and I gathered
all of our equipment and went over and captured the swarm in a cardboard
box.  I brought them back and put them in front of a new hive with
foundation and opened the box and they just walked into the hive. It was
the most exciting and gratifing thing I have ever witnessed. "
 
I agree with you, that hiveing a swarm is an exciting experience.  I love to
watch them go on into the hive too, all with a singleness of purpose.
However, I would like to comment that this swarm came from a known feral
colony, so obviously the parent colony got through the winter without mite
control measures.  I would watch this new colony carefully - it may show signs
of varroa resistance, and be a valuable resource for you.  Watch the feral
colony, too, to see whether it will survive the year intact.