Ok an absconded hive is back....HOW

[slacker361]

A few months ago I posted that a hive had absconded and all that was left was a few bees and and a lot of dead bees on the bottom screen.... No honey and only about 5 capped brood...not frames , but the individual larva...... went down to see how my other two hives are, and was going to take apart the hive that is gone....... the hive that is gone is back in full force and has lots of brood and starting on honey stores......$^*........ this has me extremely baffled did the queen take the bees on vacation to disney, or did another swarm move in ?      WOW if that is all you have to do to catch a swarm is put out an empty hive, ill never buy bees again ....

[BlueBee]

My guess is a swarm moved in.  The queen isn't marked is she  :-D

[T Beek]

Besides several swarm traps I always leave one complete (2 8-frame mediums) hive with some empty brood comb set up throughout summer just for this reason.  I've caught a swarm in one about every other year over past 7 years and have had only one swarm occupy one of the traps.  Go figure, hey :-\

I agree w/ BlueBee, you caught a late swarm.  Now you have to figure out whether it will make it without some help.

thomas

[slacker361]

Couldn't find her but all the brood she is there

[AllenF]

Ya, late season swarm moved in.   

[D Coates]

I'd bet late swarm too, but now you need to feed, feed, feed if you want them to have any chance of surviving the winter.