I'm not sure what steps to take next regarding a swarm. Late yesterday, one of my hives cast a swarm which I was able to catch and put in a hive body next to my other 3 hives. I then went into the parent hive that cast the swarm and culled all but two queen cells after taking a frame with queen cells on it and making up a 5 frame nuc and putting it next to the others in the same apiary. Today its raining but temps on Sat will be about 65 and 70's next week. Can someone provide input on what I should do regarding this situation. Thanks
Sounds like you've done about what you should have done. Keep you ears open and your eye on the sky. There may be a virgin or two getting ready to take off. Go through the other hives as well. Be careful not to destroy any queen/swarm cells in case the other hives have swarm and that's their replacement queen.
You have done just about all you can. Let the swarm and split have some alone time. The hive that swarmed may swarm again if they have enough bees and resources. Just keep an eye out for that otherwise let them have their alone time also. And like GSF said, I would check your other hives. They may be getting ready to swarm also.
As mentioned, you did good.
Listen for queens piping, a sure indicator that the bees intend to swarm again. Keep any of the queens that did not hatch and put them in a small jar of alcohol. You can dip Q-tips in the alcohol, mark the outside of your swarm traps and put the Q-tips in the trap inside a sealed baggie to catch swarms.
Jim
When you made the nuc and put it in the same yard, why don't the field bees in the nuc go back to their original hive.
We would take the nuc to another location 2-3 mile away min. for a few days and then bring it back when the field bees have adopted their new home.
Ole,
That is what I have to do.
Jim