Mailing list for the Person County Beekeepers Association, Roxboro, NC

[Todd Walker <mtwalker AT imageray.net>]

Lelia,

I do wait until most of the bees have settled a the branch, etc. because they can move to around a bit at first. You may not have gotten the queen into the nuc. Usually if you see a lot of bees fanning, she is inside. However, sometimes they are finicky and still decide to leave. You a can help persuade them to stay be putting a frame of open brood in the box before you shake the bees in.

If you do see capped swarm cells, there is a pretty good chance that they have already decided to swarm. I would still recommend splitting anyway if you want more hives. Splitting may make them change their minds or at least reduce the number of bees you lose.

~Todd

From: <heartandhandsfarm AT gmail.com>
Date: Sunday, April 7, 2013 9:20 PM
To: PCBA ListServ <person_county_beekeepers_association AT lists.ibiblio.org>
Subject: [PCBA] Swarm question

I was dressed and about to check my dads hives when I looked out at the apiary and saw the bees swarming. I followed them across a field, they were hauling ----, and then out of site. I went across road hoping to find them, but no luck. I returned to the apiary and behold. There was a swarm in the cedar tree near the first hive. I had a empty nuc, proceeded to cut limb and shook bees into box. I waited about 5 minutes and then noticed a small swarm back on the cedar. I cut that limb as well. However, bees seemed to want to fly. I then noticed many of the bees returning to the hive.

 

So, I went ahead and just briefly checked my dads hives because of all the activity. Added a honey super to each. Lots of bees. I went back to nuc where I had deposited swarm and most bees gone. No queen.

 

So, question, should I have waited longer before trying to catch swarm? I read on internet that swarm needs to settle. Or, was the queen a virgin? Will hive try to swarm again?

 

I am thinking of going back in hives tomorrow to look for queen cells,etc. Should I split if there are queen cells?

 

Confused. Could someone give advice?

 

Thanks Lelia Gentry

 

Sent from Windows Mail

 

_______________________________________________ Person_County_Beekeepers_Association mailing list Person_County_Beekeepers_Association AT lists.ibiblio.org http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/person_county_beekeepers_association