I'm not sure if I would know what a swarm cell would look like. It would be great if someone could post a pic and educate some of us idiots. ( OK I mean me)
http://www.bushfarms.com/images/SwarmCells.JPG
These are supercedure cells, notice they are in the middle of the frame, not on the bottom like Michael Bush's picture above.
(http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/3189/cimg1671g.th.jpg) (http://img17.imageshack.us/my.php?image=cimg1671g.jpg)
...JP
Thats what I thought but wanted to make sure. Thanks alot for the quick response.
your welcome.
...JP
ok, so large cells in the middle of a frame is an indication that a hive is preparing to swarm? What are some other indicators?
Thanks,
Peggy
Jdesq. Here is a picture of swarm cells on a frame from my Carniolan colony. They love to propagate..... As you can see the cells are clumped and on the bottom of the frame
(http://img166.imageshack.us/img166/1875/swarmcells.jpg) (http://img166.imageshack.us/my.php?image=swarmcells.jpg)
A supercedure cell, one that they might build, then tear down, or raise a queen in. Bees build and tear down queen cups all the time, a common thing in the colony, they know how to practice, smiling. Usually when you see queen cups separately on the face of the comb it is queen cups, not related to swarm cells, slightly different ideas on the part of the bee. But that is not always 100% the case. Have a most wonderful and awesome life, day, health. Cindi
Three queen cups
(http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/8149/threeqcps.jpg) (http://img210.imageshack.us/my.php?image=threeqcps.jpg)
Those queen cups (could be supercedure cells) from a different angle, smiling
(http://img114.imageshack.us/img114/917/twoqcups.jpg) (http://img114.imageshack.us/my.php?image=twoqcups.jpg)
cindi, do you ever pull those frames and start new hives, or do you just leave them and let nature take it's course? i know it's a waste of time to scrape them. was wondering if they continue to try to supersede or build swarm cells if you remove the entire frame. i have just left them to this point.
>ok, so large cells in the middle of a frame is an indication that a hive is preparing to swarm?
-Lots of bees in a hive and no room for the queen to lay --- Congestion
-Backfilling of the brood nest ---- filling the brood nest with nectar as the brood hatches. This indicates they have put the queen on a diet and preparing her for flight.
Quote from: Davepeg on March 11, 2009, 12:37:50 PM
ok, so large cells in the middle of a frame is an indication that a hive is preparing to swarm? What are some other indicators?
Thanks,
Peggy
Peggy, swarm cells will be at the bottom of the frames. Queen cells with royal jelly or capped, are supercedure cells, and are in the middle or near the top of the frame.
...JP
Cindi, Great photos again. I like the swarm cells. Ive never actually seen any yet in real life. Is it strange that they bunched them up like that? Maybe we should start a post in the "What it should look like" area for "Swarm cells" and "Supercedure" cells.
Kathy, when I see swarm cells as such, what I like to do is to take the queen from that colony, a good part of the brood and a good part of the honey and place in a new place in a new box. Those bees are already in the swarm mood, and nothing will change their mind. The queen in the new location, lots of brood gone (so the other original hive does not have to do too much work with brood rearing) and honey, the bees are under the belief that a swarm has occurred. The beekeeper has fooled the bees. They won't swarm as they think the colony has. Of course, swarm prevention should be in place, but sometimes we just get a little lazy, smiling.
The queen cups that you see in the middle of the frame. I would never cut them out or take them off the frame. I believe that the bees know what is up and I leave them alone. There is a good chance that even though they have built these (unless there are queen eggs/larvae within these cells), that they are going to be torn down. And if they have a queen within any of these cells, I think they are of the belief that they have a failing queen and need a new one. I know that I have not even tipped the edge of the iceberg with my learning, but I would like to think that I know a little bit, smiling.
I am still in such a massive learning curve in my beekeeping that I still just don't get stuff. But really, when I think logically about what the bees are doing, I really think that they know best. Oh yeah, have a wonderful and awesomely great day, life, health, we all be lovin' and livin' our great lives. Cindi
Awesome pics everyone!! Very helpful- I knew I could count on you folks.
Ok,...lets go a little further along on this subject :)..So,....If you have the "peanut cell" on a frame.....and its sealed.....Is this also the point(or initiative) to where this can be where you pull the frame out with a mess of others and you have the necessary ingredients to start a new hive?
your friend,
john
If the cell is already capped and there are just one or two of them then no. I would leave them in the current hive to provide a queen for the hive as the old queen is prolly already gone. If you have multiple frames with multiple cells on each frame that are capped then I would say yes, but be sure to leave a couple of the cells in the existing hive. That is also saying the hive is strong enough to split also. :-P
On the picture on my web site, those are swarm cells on a foundationless frame. You'll notice they like to put the cells on the edge of the comb, not necessarily the bottom. In this case there is an edge where the two combs they started met in the middle.