Yesterday afternoon my bees swarmed to a branch in an oak tree. I was preparing a new hive for them and was going to get some help to catch them but I just noticed that they left. It is 4PM.
Do they tend to return or are they history? If so how far might they go?
I should add that it is 30 Celsius / 86 F and very muggy and the sun goes down at this latitude at around 9 - 9:30 PM.
Once they left that branch, they won't bee back to it. A small swarm that is really a virgin queen mating flight will come back to hive. But a regular swarm once swarmed, land on a limb, and then leave are gone. As far as how far, year before last I was within a few feet of being to a swarm, and they took off, I followed them for about a quarter of a mile before they were out of sight. While on the limb they are checking out where they want to go, when they decide they go there.
Joe
Thanks Joe, appreciate the info.
Mostly I agree with Joe. Except, I had two swarms this year that went to a close limb (the same one) then to a tree about 50' and 60' away (different directions,) In the past if I do not catch them within 2 hours, they are usually gone for good or are so high that I can not retrieve them. -Mike