I caught 2 swarms. The first one was about 10 days ago. It was a ball of bees as big as a basketball, in a small tree. I brought them home and they are really packing the honey away. I have inspected the hive twice. The first time I spotted the queen. I looked again today, I couldn't locate the queen, but there are alot of bees in there. Anyway, I am concerned that I'm not seeing any eggs or larve.
The second swarm I caught was also pretty good size. The bees have taken to their new home, but again, I can't see any eggs or larve. This swarm was caught and put in the hive box about 5 days ago. Is it too early to expect to see eggs, or do you think somethings up. Any suggestion would be apprectiated.
If I end up being without a laying queen, what would be the best option for these hives?
Thanks again, Leechmann.
in hive one, you should be seeing something. a swarm that size in a good flow will probably need more than one box. before the queen gets going well, a large swarm has time to clog the hive with honey. were you using drawn foundation, or did they have to draw it out? what is your flow like? i would not suspect a swarm because a newly hived swarm that swarms again, usually absconds and there isn't much left. another possibility is that the swarm had a virgin queen. they take longer to get going.
in the second, give them more time. i hived one 7 days ago. i just saw eggs yesterday. this was on starter strips, so they were drawing out as they were storing and she began laying. in 7 days, they have packed in a remarkable among of nectar. fortunately for me, they were not basketball size! check that one again in a few days. eggs can be very hard to see.
Thanks for your reply Kathy. The hives are both in boxes with drawn comb. They are both really getting after the nector and packing it away. I have both hives starting with 2 deeps. How many days does it take for the egg to hatch into a larva? It looks like the bees are very satified with thier new home, as they have really been cleaning it out and packing the nector away.