I retrieved a swarm from a bush, which couldn't have been there more that a few hours. Look at the wax they left behind.
Bob,
The next time you find a swarm that has been there for more than a day or so, look closely at their abdomens. I have found bees with balls of wax on them, a lot of it. When they hold honey in their stomachs, they are wax building machines.
Jim Altmiller
>When they hold honey in their stomachs, they are wax building machines.
When they swarm, they are also just the right age for the best efficiency at wax making.