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June 09, 2005 Volume 47 Tecumseh, Ontario Edition No. 15 |
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Sticky buzziness saving swarm
by Cheryl Hardcastle |
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 An apiarist for over 25 years, most just call Gene Papineau a beekeeper. Some are calling him a honey of a guy since he was quick to respond to a Tecumseh residence to remove thousands of honey bees that swarmed in on Sunday. Papineau has had as many as 35 hives at one time. He now keeps eight hives, enough to supply family and friends with fresh honey. The average beehive has a population of 80,000 honey bees. Each travels up to three miles collecting nectar for producing honey, pollinating natural and garden plants in the process. Thousands of confused honeybees have a new hive at Cloverleaf Farm in Belle River, thanks to beekeeper Gene Papineau who removed the swarm from the backyard of the Charbonneau home on St. Denis Street in Tecumseh on Tuesday morning. The swarm appeared on Sunday afternoon and stayed put. Rather than attempt to destroy the beneficial insects, friends called on Papineau who promptly brought a beehive box and set out the slats. At the scent of honey remains, the bees dutifully climbed on and Papineau packed them into the box. (A thick group is visible at bottom right corner of the box.) No stings during the course of their stay. Honey-laden drones like these are not aggressive says Papineau. The protective gear was in case there was a young queen that the drones would protect if disturbed. There was no sign of one. The beekeeper says it’s likely that the hive population grew too large (meaning a second queen was hatched) and the scouts of the hive lead their queen to a new location. These fellows didn’t get the memo. 
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