Here's a scenario:16/04/2010 A cut-out was made of a huge hive in a tree that had approx. 3swarm cells and the plan was to attain 2hive from this cut-out.The Queen was caught in make-shift trap and put in first box with abt 4frames which had brood/honey/pollen combs tied in along with the Queen cells (plan was to keep queen in 1st box for 2hrs to attract bees).2nd box was setup with tied frames of brood/honey/pollen also.
After 2hrs elapsed went to transfer queen to 2nd box but unfortunately she escaped in the 1st hive so had to remove frame with queen cells to put in 2nd box along with the trap which i believe would have her pheromone,after this the 1st box with queen was taken about a mile away and 2nd left at location of cut-out.
Queen cells had larva inside floating in royal jelly so assumed they were 4-5days old.Do you think it'd be best to leave this 2nd box at the location until the queen emerges and commence laying or take it away soon??? :-\
Check made 6days after & queen cells were capped,lots a bees in hive and alot were also occupying the area where cut-out was made.......
Would it also be a good idea to replace(screw/nail) the parts that were cut from tree to create original hallow setting with expectation that someday it may become a home for a new colony?? :-\
I would leave it until she emerges and begins laying. I would also get the bees out of the tree, with smoke, bee quick, or whatever gets them out.Force them to join the hive.
The tree as a swarm trap, I have no answer for that one.
Ok,actually i tried getting them out with aid of smoke but majority seem to have gone right back,box is located 2feet from the tree.
Sounds like the queen flew back to the tree when she escaped.
nope nope,she fine in her new home,1st box.Maybe they're just some stubborn lil ladies :?
Maybe another queen. There's something anchoring them there. Find out what.
:idunno: hmmm,well next time i'll just have to make a closer inspection i guess :-\
Well i got chance to check on hive at cut-out location few days ago and saw wat i feared most-WAX MOTHS :-x I hate those things man :deadhorse:
Queen cells were capped and ripe,bee population reduced drastically and only an orange sized bundle remained in tree where cut-out was made.Waxmoth larvae were all over destroying everything,combs filled with web only one queencell was untouched :(-I really shud've used a nuc for this but didnt have one handy at the time.....atleast it wasn't a total loss bcuz the queenright hive i took home seems to be doing well so far.
I'm willing to learn from my mistakes but it feels alot better when i learn from the mistakes of others :-D :-D