PCBA Club Meetings

The Pueblo County Beekeeping Association meets every second Thursday of the month, at 6:30 p.m., at the:

Pueblo County Lamb Branch Library
2525 S Pueblo Blvd
Pueblo, CO 81005

PCBA Member Education

PCBA Event Speakers

Be Our Guest
Speaker!

  1. Share Expertise and Knowledge

  2. Raise Awareness

  3. Promote Best Practices

  4. Encourage Innovation

  5. Build Relationships

  6. Increase Visibility

  7. Support Beekeepers Across Southern Colorado

 
 
 
 

Check out above, to see the WIDE variety of educational events hosted by PCBA. PCBA Educational Events boast crowds from 50 to 500.

If you would like to speak at a PCBA meeting or Speaker Event, please the button to the left. 

NewBee
Mentor Program

This is a program for members of the Pueblo County Beekeepers Association. We are a community of beekeepers. Once you have benefitted from the mentorship program, please consider paying it forward and helping other new beekeepers.

Rick Ludwig, Mentor Program Coordinator
719-242-1509 | Email

BeeCurious

Event Booth Volunteers

PCBA partners with many local community event organizers
and we need members' to volunteer to set up booths and
interacting with the community during these events.

Presentations at

Schools + Organizations + 4-H

PCBA accepts requests to host presentations--
mostly at elementary schools--but, also at a
wide variety of other venues. Volunteers can pick
up demonstration equipment, flyers and handouts.
The kids and teachers LOVE our presentations!

Equipment Rental

Shop our Local Sponsors for Beekeeping Supplies & Hive Equipment

Beeline of Colorado (Pueblo):
www.BeeLineOfColorado.com

Rocky Mountain Bee Supply (Colorado Springs):
www.RockyMountainBeeSupply.com

Swarm Scramble + Swarm List

General Info
Types of Swarm Calls
Swarm List Application - CLICK HERE

Starting in January, members can sign up for the Swarm Scramble, which closes at the April Meeting. 

At the April meeting, the Swarm Scramble (like a lottery) is performed--names are pulled out of a hat, and that's the order of the list for that year.

Names submitted AFTER the Swarm Scramble, will be added to the bottom of the Swarm List.

The Swarm List is carried over into the next member year. Whomever is no longer a member, their name gets removed from the list.

Don't be shy--add your name to the next Swarm Scramble ASAP--apply to the swarm list.

Swarm catching in beekeeping involves capturing and relocating a swarm of bees that has left its original hive in search of a new nesting location. Swarming is a natural reproductive behavior of honeybee colonies, typically occurring in the spring or early summer when the population of the colony has increased and conditions are favorable for expansion.

Beekeepers often see swarms as an opportunity to increase their apiary or to prevent the bees from establishing themselves in unwanted locations, such as inside buildings or trees where they may pose a risk to humans or property.

To catch a swarm, beekeepers typically:

  1. Locate the Swarm: Swarms are usually found hanging from tree branches, fences, or other structures. They can be quite conspicuous due to their size and the large number of bees clustered together.

  2. Prepare Equipment: Beekeepers prepare a hive box or a swarm trap to capture the bees. This may involve setting up bait hives with frames containing empty comb or a pheromone lure to attract the bees.

  3. Capture the Swarm: Beekeepers gently shake or brush the bees into the hive box or swarm trap. It's essential to work calmly and carefully to avoid agitating the bees.

  4. Transport and Relocation: Once the bees are captured, they are transported to a new location, typically to a beekeeper's apiary. Here, they are introduced to a new hive where they can establish themselves and continue their activities.

Swarm catching requires experience and skill to be done effectively and safely. It's essential to take precautions to protect both the beekeeper and the bees during the process. Additionally, beekeepers should be mindful of local regulations and obtain any necessary permits before relocating swarms.

A "trap out" in beekeeping refers to a method used to remove bees from a structure or location where they are unwanted, such as a building or a tree, without harming them. It involves setting up a one-way exit that allows bees to leave the area but prevents them from returning. Typically, this involves placing a device or cone over the entrance the bees are using to exit the hive. The bees are then encouraged to find a new home, often a nearby bait hive provided by the beekeeper. Once the majority of bees have left the original location and moved into the bait hive, the original hive can be safely removed or sealed off. This method is more time-consuming than other bee removal techniques, but it is generally considered more humane because it doesn't involve killing the bees.

In beekeeping, a "cut out" refers to a process of removing a colony of bees from an unwanted location, such as inside a wall, ceiling, or other structure. Unlike a "trap out," which encourages bees to leave on their own, a cut out involves physically cutting open the structure to access the hive and then removing the bees and comb. This process can be quite challenging and often requires specialized tools and expertise to ensure both the safety of the beekeeper and the well-being of the bees. Once the colony has been removed, the area is typically repaired to prevent future bee infestations. 

Our Amazing Sponsors:

Get the latest BUZZ from PCBA

Next PCBA Club Meeting:

DATE CHANGE TO: Thursday, October 17th, 6:30pm
Pueblo City-County Library District – Lamb Branch
2525 S Pueblo Blvd, Pueblo, CO 81005

PCBA meetings are usually held on the 2nd Thurs, monthly.

Click here to subscribe to the new PCBA Google Calendar
for meeting and event update reminders.

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