OK, really wierd happenings in my yard today. At about three o'clock, I looked out, and much to my disapproval, there was a swarm in the air. I went out to observe, and tried the old hit on a bucket trick to see if they would settle. We'll they settled about thirty feet up. I noticed continued activity from both my hives, not seeing any significant loss of bees. It was not clear which hive the swarm came out of.
I got everything together, borrowed a nice ladder from the neighbor, and spread a paint tarp on the ground to sit the hive on. My plan, shake the limb, bees would fall partially landing in the hive, partially on the tarp. Worst case, they would leave again. Nothing ventured nothing gained.
By the time I got everything together the cluster began to get smaller, quick. At the same time, one of my hives started to beard up alot. Upon inspection, the bees were all fanning like crazy. The more I watched, the more evident it was to me, that the swarm was combining with the existing hive.
The hive that they combined with started as a five frame nuc. In early March I moved them into ten frames. In early April, I added ten more deep frames. Then last week, I gave them a shallow supper to work on.
It took about an hour and all was quiet. No bees bearded, no bees on the limb. And no evidence of fighting.
I have no idea on this one. Not sure the swarm was mine. Not sure if they swarmed, and went back into the hive they came out of. Not sure if the large hive swarmed and went into the other.
Just not sure at all. Any ideas.
Can someone point me to the really wierd stuff chapter.
That would not be a good scenario. I wll be gone for 24 hrs. starting at 8 in the morning. My duty day. That means if they leave on Monday, they are gone.
If that is the case, will they swarm again? Will they tear down the swarm cells?
If another swarm combined, what will go with the two queens? Will they swarm?
Any ideas on what to expect?
If that is the case, will they swarm again? Will they tear down the swarm cells?
If another swarm combined, what will go with the two queens? Will they swarm?
Any ideas on what to expect?
If you have an empty hive, set it at the corner of your lot, as far from the hives as possible. If you are lucky, they will go in it when they swarm again tomorrow. Will your wife be home tomorrow? If so, give her mine, ski's and Rob's phone numbers., and any other beek's that you know who are close. Tell her to watch for the swarm. If they land within reach, call some of us.
So, does it sound to you all like the hive that they went into, is the one that swarmed? If so, why would a five frame nuc, with last years queen, that has been more than quadrupled in size (room) since early March, decide to swarm? They had plenty of room, ample ventilation with screened bottom, and she was not failing by the appearance of the pattern.
I did not read this chapter in the book. I don't think they did either!
Anyway, if they leave, no one will be around to see it. What are the chances of them staying put after coming out today? I am guessing less than 50/50.
I did not read this chapter in the book. I don't think they did either!
Anyway, if they leave, no one will be around to see it. What are the chances of them staying put after coming out today? I am guessing less than 50/50.
>>>> If so, why would a five frame nuc, with last years queen, that has been more than quadrupled in size (room) since early March, decide to swarm?<<<<
Why do teenagers date????
THEY WANT TO MULTIPLY!!!
Chances of them staying are 1 in a hundred. Try the catch box. It seems to be your only chance, unless you want to call in sick.
Why do teenagers date????
THEY WANT TO MULTIPLY!!!
Chances of them staying are 1 in a hundred. Try the catch box. It seems to be your only chance, unless you want to call in sick.
Someone else had a similar occurrence
Walt Wright made some comments in the thread about 4-5 posts down in the link below.
http://www.beesource.com/forums/showthread.php?t=240711
Walt Wright made some comments in the thread about 4-5 posts down in the link below.
http://www.beesource.com/forums/showthread.php?t=240711
Interesting. I will need to make a good inspection on Friday to verify that the two hives are truly Queen Right. I wish I had been out there to see which one of the hives the swarm came from. I know in March, there were lots of eggs, capped brood, and good pattern to both hives. Friday will be the sixth day from the time I witnessed the swarm, so if either one of the hives is queenless, it will not have eggs. If anything, timing is good. Both are still bringing in pollen like crazy.
Wierd stuff. My largest hive is doing very well. Good layiing queen, honey being put in all three suppers.. and Not one queen cell. A few cups, all of which were empty.
The hive that I started this year from the wintered five frame nuc, has eggs in both deeps, good pattern, and many queen cells. Some are on the bottom of the frames, assuming swarm cells. And some are upper deep, mid frame, assuming supercedure cells. At any rate, I did a walk away split, not having found the queen, and came home. I am sure I will still have a swarm, as this has never worked for me with out one resulting.
I would have never guessed that I could have wintered a five frame nuc, put it in ten frames, gave them ten more frames, and put a supper on all within 6 weeks, and still split the hive two months later. This still does not explain the swarm that came out, partially settled, and then went back???
The hive that I started this year from the wintered five frame nuc, has eggs in both deeps, good pattern, and many queen cells. Some are on the bottom of the frames, assuming swarm cells. And some are upper deep, mid frame, assuming supercedure cells. At any rate, I did a walk away split, not having found the queen, and came home. I am sure I will still have a swarm, as this has never worked for me with out one resulting.
I would have never guessed that I could have wintered a five frame nuc, put it in ten frames, gave them ten more frames, and put a supper on all within 6 weeks, and still split the hive two months later. This still does not explain the swarm that came out, partially settled, and then went back???
No Queen in Either
Ok, checked the hive today, and there is not a queen in either box. The parent box, has queen cells that are open, hinged at the bottom. I have not seen a swarm in the area, not to say there has not been one. I am hoping that a virgin queen is in there, or a newly mated queen that is not laying yet. The cells were capped on the 30th of April. That is one week ago today.
The second box, that I put on a new bottom board, still has capped queen cells, and no queen. Is 8 days not the window of a queen emerging from capped cell? At wht point should I say this is a queenless hive? Can someone refresh my bee math.
If I recall right, and a queen hatched within the last two or three days, then the queen will not be laying for another 10-12 correct?
And if the one box has cells that capped on teh 29th or 30th, then they are due to hatch anytime?
I will check in another two weeks and see if I have a laying queen in either. If one does, and the other does not, I will combine. This does not explain what happened to the queen that had layed the eggs that I saw on the 30th.
Thanks
The second box, that I put on a new bottom board, still has capped queen cells, and no queen. Is 8 days not the window of a queen emerging from capped cell? At wht point should I say this is a queenless hive? Can someone refresh my bee math.
If I recall right, and a queen hatched within the last two or three days, then the queen will not be laying for another 10-12 correct?
And if the one box has cells that capped on teh 29th or 30th, then they are due to hatch anytime?
I will check in another two weeks and see if I have a laying queen in either. If one does, and the other does not, I will combine. This does not explain what happened to the queen that had layed the eggs that I saw on the 30th.
Thanks
Try this link to Michael Bush's bee math page. You may want to print out a copy. I find it very helpful.
http://www.bushfarms.com/beesmath.htm
http://www.bushfarms.com/beesmath.htm