Swarm Returned to Hive??

alfred · May 25, 2013, 09:59:29 PM

Today I saw a swarm land on one of my hives and join it. I can only assume that it had originated from the hive and then came back for some reason. I didn't see them swarm out. When I got there all I saw was this swarm that moved from across the yard over to my hives. Then they settled on one of them and marched in. Has anyone seen this behavior?

Alfred

AllenF · May 25, 2013, 10:13:38 PM

I had a swarm last week land high in a tree and them went back. It just wasn't time for them.

AllenF · May 25, 2013, 10:14:58 PM

Also for folks way south, an AHB swarm will take over a weak or queen less hive.

Sparky · May 25, 2013, 10:33:31 PM

Quote from: alfred on May 25, 2013, 09:59:29 PM
Today I saw a swarm land on one of my hives and join it. I can only assume that it had originated from the hive and then came back for some reason. I didn't see them swarm out. When I got there all I saw was this swarm that moved from across the yard over to my hives. Then they settled on one of them and marched in. Has anyone seen this behavior?

Alfred

It would be a good idea to make sure they have plenty of space in the brood area and a empty super to work on.

don2 · May 25, 2013, 10:35:30 PM

If for some reason the queen didn't leave with the swarm they will return. :) d2

BlueBee · May 26, 2013, 12:06:28 AM

I've had a swarm return to a hive on a couple of occasions. I assume it was because the queen didn't leave for some reason. Maybe she was still too fat to fly? I don't know.

In my cases, the swarm came back and collected around the entrance. I brushed them into a new box (actually nuc) and they stayed, so I think there was a queen in there someplace ;)

don2 · May 26, 2013, 12:19:32 AM

Like was said, we don't know what we don't know. "these bees" are still teaching us. ;) :) d2

Elbill · May 26, 2013, 10:07:24 AM

Had a hive swarm and return to the hive in about an hour, went to the hive and accidentally noticed the queen on the ground in front of the hive stand. Picked her up and she went right into the hive. Next day they left for good.

alfred · May 26, 2013, 11:21:16 AM

So it looks like the consensus is that for some reason they came back, probably because the Queen didn't go with them. If so, then my guess is that they will still want to swarm probably today or tomorrow.

Should I be trying to find the queen and cage her? Maybe in a new hive and then maybe shake them out so they think that they have successfully swarmed?

I do have two swarm lures out in the yard, and I put out a new one yesterday in the direction that they had been in. So if they do go before I get a chance to do anything then maybe I will trap them.

Don't know what else to do at this point to save them.

Alfred

duck · May 26, 2013, 11:48:44 AM

Ive had swarms try to leave with the queen locked down in the box. I had one this year do this twice a day for a week. Finally I knocked half the swarm that was hanging on the front of the box into a bucket, then immediately dumped them straight into an awaiting super on top of another hive that I setup for a combine. They didnt try to leave after that and I let the queen loose. So knocking down their number may have stopped the impulse to swarm.

don2 · May 26, 2013, 07:50:49 PM

If a colony goes into the swarm mode and builds swarm cells and you take the mother/older queen that has been with the colony for some time away with out any bees they will most likely swarm anyhow. You have to take care of making adjustments before the swarming mode starts. :)d2