Swarm with no queen - now what?

Oblio13 · May 31, 2013, 05:51:10 PM

Had a very large swarm way up in a pine tree. Got the bright idea to spread a tarp underneath and shoot the branch in half. The problem is that the cluster hit so hard there were a lot of casualties. They were soaking wet, too, I think they disgorged their honey. I scooped three or four pounds of them into a Warre hive body, but I don't think I got the queen. So now what? Will they drift back to other hives?

blanc · May 31, 2013, 06:08:06 PM

If you were able to get a frame of brood from another beek and put some lemon grass oil scent in it you may be able to keep them or do a shake and let them figure where they will wind up. You could strengthen other hives with them.
Blanc

Kathyp · May 31, 2013, 06:42:04 PM

why don't you think you got the queen?

asprince · May 31, 2013, 06:45:02 PM

I agree, give them a frame of open brood and see what happens. She may be there and if not they will make a queen. Sometimes we get some very large swarms and split them into several hives not knowing where the queen is. We give them all a frame of brood and they take care of the rest.

Good Luck,

Steve

Better.to.Bee.than.not · May 31, 2013, 07:21:02 PM

heh, why do I have a flash of someone saying "you just might be a red.... if you shoot a branch down with a bunch of bees hoping to gain a swarm..." heh...guess it sorta worked thought, so that would make you actually clever, I have to say.

Joe D · May 31, 2013, 07:55:54 PM

Aw don't worry about being called a-----. I have been called crazy for having foundationless frames, having a TBH, and for not chemically treating for mites, and etc. May we all learn from each other and their mistakes to. Good going you got the swarm.

Joe

blanc · May 31, 2013, 09:01:18 PM

Quote from: Joe D on May 31, 2013, 07:55:54 PM
Aw don't worry about being called a-----. I have been called crazy for having foundationless frames, having a TBH, and for not chemically treating for mites, and etc. May we all learn from each other and their mistakes to. Good going you got the swarm.

Joe

Joe I am with you on no treatments and as CD Bailey says let the strong survive to getter better genes. So far the hives are strong and numbers good. Hope things are good for you too. :)
Blanc

Oblio13 · May 31, 2013, 09:55:13 PM

Quote from: kathyp on May 31, 2013, 06:42:04 PM
why don't you think you got the queen?

I only got about half of them, considering all the casualties and bunch who seemed more interested in going up to a very high branch in the pine tree than in going into the hive. I'm somewhat more optimistic now, though. When I went back at sunset, the bunch up in the tree were gone, and the hive body seems pretty heavy.

I can't add a frame of brood, as it's a Warre hive body with fixed frames.

Guess I'll leave them be and time will tell. I've learned the hard way over and over that if I'm not sure what to do, doing nothing is usually best.