swarm returns to original hive

Alice's Garden · April 19, 2008, 08:51:28 AM

I just had a swarm from a hive yesterday. They went to a nearby tree for a couple of hours, and by the time I got home from work they had returned TO THE SAME HIVE! Has anyone ever heard of that? I gave them an additional brood box with foundation, and will inspect more closely today. I'm concerned that they will swarm again. Any advice?
Alice

buzzbee · April 19, 2008, 09:22:31 AM

Seems a little early for a Central PA swarm,but it has been warm. If the queen wasn't able to leave with the swarm ,they will return to the original hive. The new colony will not survive without the queen.Is it possible the bees were gathering on a nectar source where you saw them?
What part of PA are you from?

JP · April 19, 2008, 10:05:41 AM

I had a small cut-out swarm out twice on me the other day, only to return, twice. I witnessed the entire event. The queen was in a queen catcher and couldn't leave, yours probably cannot fly as well for whatever reason, so, like Ken mentioned they fly back to her.

Btw, I housed them in a medium after they took flight for the second time, they thank me with nectar kisses every time I walk by the hive now. They used to give me the bird finger before that. Heehee. :-D

...JP

Alice's Garden · April 19, 2008, 03:21:34 PM

I'm from south central PA, and it has been unseasonably warm. My husband saw the swarm and said it was HUGE - and was hanging in a teardrop pattern on a nearby pine tree. Strange. I'm trying to keep in mind that this is all a learning experience and pray that my new smoker arrives asap! I gave my other hive two more supers and am hoping for the best!
Alice

buzzbee · April 19, 2008, 07:08:15 PM

Alice ,
we're from North Central PA
Good luck on the swarm captures.

DennisB · April 19, 2008, 08:11:04 PM

Hey JP
What does a nectar kiss feel like?

Dennis

JP · April 19, 2008, 08:16:09 PM

Quote from: DennisB on April 19, 2008, 08:11:04 PM
Hey JP
What does a nectar kiss feel like?

Dennis

So good you wanna slap ya Momma!!!

...JP

thegolfpsycho · April 19, 2008, 08:45:22 PM

All this swarm talk. Hey.. it's still winter on the Wasatch! Snow flurry predicted for tomorrow. Heavy snow knocked the fruit blossoms off last week. At least the dandylions are up. Now if I can keep the weed sprayer out of the neighborhood, my bees might have a chance. I did get a pleasant suprise yesterday. I was pulling apart a 3 deep hive that I thought had died and was being robbed out. Got down in there, and there were 3 frames of bees fighting to make it to warmer weather. I gave them the finman terrarium heater treatment, stapled the roofing felt back on em and scolded their neighbors for botherin them.