I was doing a hive inspection today on a swarm I caught on March 21 and came across a queen cup that had been sealed. What do I do with it? The colony has plenty of room, the queen is laying excellent brood pattern with lots of capped brood and larvae. The colony was about a two to two and a half pound swarm, not very big but they seem to be doing well. I am a new bee keeper and I am not sure as to what to do. If I leave it will the colony swarm? Do I take it out? Need some advice.
I would leave it. Either they will remove it or they know there is a problem with the queen and they will replace her. Either way, they know best. It's VERY doubtful they will swarm again.
If the old queen was with the swarm they may be looking to replace her. I am no expert on swarms, or any other thing as far as that goes :-D but my understanding is a swarm often replaces the old queen. I just don't know how quick but I believe it is the season of the swarm. Sure others will weigh in on this since I went out on a limb, probably to saw it off ;)
Normally within a month a swarm will replace the old queen. There is a good chance you will end up with mother/daughter combo both laying eggs together. I have one out back right now. I split a hive and almost a month later it has a new queen and the old one. I marked both of them.
Jim