Virgin Swarm

[dlmarti]

When you have a second swarm from a hive, the queen in the second swarm is a virgin right?

Are there any additional precautions you need to take, so you don't lose the queen?

My issue is, I don't understand when the mating flight for the queen will occur, so I don't know when it would be safe to move the boxed swarm to its permanent location.

Luckily this hasn't happened to me yet, I just want to know just in case :)

[Scadsobees]

If it is the second swarm within a week, then yes, probably virgin.

No, you can't do a whole lot to keep them from leaving, other than giving them drawn comb, or better yet a frame of brood and food.  That should keep them anchored.  You can't put a queen excluder (includer) on because 1. she is probably slim enough to slip through and 2. she needs to get out and in to mate.

If you aren't sure when to move them, just check them in a week and then in another week after that, and as soon as you see eggs you can move them.  Probably about 1 or 2 weeks after they swarmed, unless she was mated.

[JP]

Do every thing you can to keep them anchored, Drawn frames of honey, a brood frame or two, some with bee bread, reduce the entrance and cage the queen with candy for a few days. The virgin will have to make that flight, you just have to twiddle your thumbs and wait for it to happen or if you can't wait, order a mated queen.


...JP