Had some swarms last Saturday and quickly set up some traps - Sunday there was some interest in this one but Monday and Tuesday no activity at all - go to work in the big city for two days and this morning this is happening. Nothing in there to rob only 3 bare frames(new) with some starter strips and and old bare half frame to give an "old smell" to the place - plus some lemon grass oil.
https://youtu.be/0vKTZ8xn3Wk
How long should I leave it before taking a look ?
I hope you have the full number of frames in there that the box holds. If not, the first comb they draw will be in the free space. If box has all frames, give them 4 days to have larva. If not, move them YESTERDAY.
Two hours later
https://youtu.be/6qMUXLY6w7k
Looks like the swarm moved in. Doesn't look like a large number of bees. Iddee gave good advice. This looks like a 5-frame nuc. You hopefully have 5 frames inside. If not, they may start building in the space without a frame. Don't worry. They will soon move onto your frames. If you leave them bee for several days, you should have a piece of comb big enough to cut off the top and put in your frame.
One caution...Last season I used 5-frame NUC boxes to catch several swarms. I usually moved the boxes within a few days of them being occupied, without trouble. In one case, a large swarm moved into my NUC. I left them for a few days, and they absconded. Evidently, that box was not large enough for the swarm. They decided to leave. If it looks like your box is not big enough for the swarm, I would go ahead and move them into a larger box within a day or two. Of maybe just add a NUC super to the top of the trap, while it is on the tree. Just a thought. Good luck, and congrats on the swarm.
The first one is scouts checking it out. The last one looks like either the scouts like it a lot or they just moved in. If they have not moved in they probably will do it soon. Look for bees bringing in pollen to see if it is just excited scouts or they moved in. Scouts do not bring in pollen while looking for a new site.
If they have moved in, I would not disturb them. The last swarm that moved into a trap, I left them for 5 weeks. they filled out the old drawn frame and the 4 empty frames, no foundation. Then I moved them into my observation hive. That was the first week of June. Yesterday I had to split them. They went from 4 frames (I took one frame for the eggs) to 8 1/2 frames and built a queen swarm cell. I moved the queen to the nuc. Last night I checked and they were as quiet as can be and the OH is full of bees. That means that the queen cell has a larva large enough to put out queen pheromones.
Jim
down here Al says you should move them to a box with frames and foundation within 7 days
What if I do not want to use foundation. :grin:
then go foundationless
I don't move a swarm trap until I see bees entering the box with pollen on their legs.
If they are taking pollen into the trap they are putting it some where telling me they took the trap.
I think that by seven days they will be bring in pollen