I go a swarm call today from our local 911. Since I am nursing a broken back, I had to call a friend for help. They were pitched on the hot asphalt. The surface temperature had to be way over 100 degrees F. We just placed a have body with some drawn comb over them and they just crawled in like little soldiers. When we picked up the hive, there was a small cluster of bees still in the ground under the hive. In the middle of the cluster was the queen, dead. We figure she did not slim down enough and ran out of steam. The hot asphalt was to much for her.
Steve
(http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/1748/0606101619.th.jpg) (http://img59.imageshack.us/i/0606101619.jpg/)
(http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/6574/0606101645.th.jpg) (http://img690.imageshack.us/i/0606101645.jpg/)
(http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/6582/0606101653.th.jpg) (http://img263.imageshack.us/i/0606101653.jpg/)
That's a shame about the poor girl. Did you add them to another hive or try to requeen them?
It was a large swarm, most were in the air when the picture was taken. I will give them a frame of uncapped brood from a queen with a good laying pattern. They will raise a new queen.
Steve