Swarm left, landed, came back???

DaveKow · May 08, 2011, 02:20:33 PM

I had a swarm leave my hive, land on my apple tree, then appear to have gone back to the hive. Is this unusual? What should I do now?

Thanks.

tillie · May 08, 2011, 04:12:07 PM

If the queen didn't leave with the swarm, they will go back.

Linda T in Atlanta

greenbtree · May 08, 2011, 04:41:49 PM

Split them, split them now?!! (Check with Iddee)

JC

annette · May 09, 2011, 02:17:55 AM

Had the same thing happen last year. They swarmed out and after 45 minutes they all went back in. I immediately split the hive.

joebrown · May 09, 2011, 02:25:00 AM

This happened to me last year as well, but unfortunately I did not get to split the hive!!

L Daxon · May 09, 2011, 11:58:30 AM

This happened to me Sat. They left and within 15 min. came back and clustered on the front & side of the hive. I brushed the bees on the outside into a new box and put two frames of brood in with them to 1) make sure they stayed in the new box and 2) give them a chance to raise their own queen as I doubt they had one.
ld

sc-bee · May 09, 2011, 10:58:56 PM

If you can, take the old queen with the split to simulate her leaving with a swarm.