Peculiar Swarm Colony?

[DayValleyDahlias]

Quick run down on Swarm colony history...You remember that day don't ya?  LOL

When on or about Ã...pril 2 I inspected, and saw 2 queen cells and lot's of capped and open brood...remembr Idid a big no no and eliminated the swarm cell...I won't do that again, anyhoo...There was that one basket shaped cell with an open bottom, so I was hoping they would make a queen outta that or some brood.

Well today they are acting all goofy...LOUD buzzing at 2pm, wiht a lot of flying about the entrance, almost looked like a swarm thing...I also noticed many drones flying about...they have not left the hive...

Would you guess this might be a mating activity...?

When should I inspect the hive again?

Many thanks sincerely...

Sharon

[Brian D. Bray]

Sounds like a queen went for a mating flight.  The virgin queen leaving the hive will often make the bees act similar to a swarm with the telltale differences beinging they don't hold the swarm cloud very long and the excess of drones following the virgin queen.

[DayValleyDahlias]

Thanks Brian, I am hoping that is what was going on!

How many days after mating does it take for queen to lay?

[Brian D. Bray]

Thanks Brian, I am hoping that is what was going on!

How many days after mating does it take for queen to lay?

A week to 10 days--varies with whether or not the queen takes multiple mating flights and her own "personality" for lack of a better word.

[DayValleyDahlias]

Got it, thanks Brian!

[Michael Bush]

There is nothing wrong with trying to keep them from swarming.  It's just that destroying queen cells seldom if ever works and often they end up queenless.

http://www.bushfarms.com/beesswarmcontrol.htm

I don't know if they are trying to swarm or just a new queen mating.  You should know shortly.  :)

[DayValleyDahlias]

LOL MB...They are all still there...so far  ;)