Welcome! New and Returning, Dane County Farmer’s Market Customers!
——–
We haven’t had any luck trapping a honeybee swarm and I think I know the obvious reason why: there haven’t been any swarms in the area. In fact, I haven’t seen any honeybees at the farm.
There used to be two beekeepers that kept hives within a mile of our farm, but I think they’ve quit and no one has taken their place. So no honeybees.
It doesn’t bother me too much, as I was worried about the effect that hives of European Honeybees can potentially have on the native pollinators. So I’ll probably take my swarm trap down at the end of this month and try again next year, possibly at a friend’s farm.
The good news is we have tons of native pollinators. I often see several young bumblebees on the same plant along with sweat bees and other wasps, beetles, flies, etc.
Below is a photo I took of a sweat bee, I think. And above is a nice wild patch of Monarda, or Bee Balm, thriving in our pasture next to a creek.
Curiousfarmer 
won’t let me post.if this makes it through, a miracle.
I posted 3x, most gorgeous bee photo, EVER!!! Thank you so much. I love bees and I have never seen this one before and I’m from the midwest!!! Beautiful!!!
Thank you so much Karen!
Well, sorry you didn’t catch any bees. Ours are doing well. We took a little honey from them recently.
Your honey is the best, Heather!
Sweat bees:
https://entnemdept.ufl.edu/Creatures/misc/bees/halictid_bees.htm
– and –
https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/pollinators/pollinator-of-the-month/halictid_bees.shtml
Thank you!
Wonderful image…nature soothes & nurtures…in turn, mother nature is to be nurtured by humans!
I would be happy with not harming!