Stupid swarm question. We have had an unseasonable erratic winter, quite warm with short hard freeze and cold snaps. Temps are now in mid to upper 80's day time and 50's - 60's at night. In the past two months I've noticed an occasional bee or two checking out a couple dresser drawers stacked up on each other. They'll go in for a couple to 5+ minutes then come out. Their direction is not back to my hives but in two other directions. My hives are building comb like crazy right now. Is it possible that they are swarm scouts? If they are does anyone have a clue when we normally have swarm activity in Arkansas?
I noticed when I had lemongrass oil out my bees were very much attracted to it and checked it out.
Thanks,
David
people are finding swarms up north so it should be time also in your area. those bee's you see could be scouts are just foragers from your hives just inspecting before they go foraging, you may never know for sure. but its always good to have swarm traps out because you never know when a hive might swarm.
I found six swarm cells in a nuc over a week ago. I'm a lot further North than you.