MB-- Definitive answer to my swarm question:

[Kris^]

It's always nice when the bees give you a definite answer to your questions, don't you think?



Between the time I finished the manipulation and when I finished filling in my log, the swarm left.  It landed in one of our apple trees 30 feet in front of the hive, about 10 feet up.  It must have been 8 pounds of bees, at least.  I didn't leave it there; I grabbed that bait hive, cut them down and put them in:



They went into the hive pretty easily.  Those left in clumps on the ground eventually filed into the hive with the rest.  I'm leaving it parked on the cart under the tree until the morning, when I'll place it where I hope they stay.  I'm pretty confident the queen went in with the rest of them.

Of course, that left the original hive short of swarm cells.   :(    So I quickly brought back the 2-frame nucs and replaced the cells in the bottom box of the parent hive.  That was definitely NOT the most fun I've had with a hive (at 7:30 pm)!  But that hive is still chock full of bees.

Do I have a lesson in afterswarms coming?       :lol:

-- Kris

[Jack Parr]

It does not follow that you will have additional swarms, or, afterswarms.

The reduction  in population of the original hive is now accomplished.

I don't understand your comments about the nuc and swarm cells?

[Kris^]

I don't understand your comments about the nuc and swarm cells?

It was a follow through on my previous questions in this thread:

http://beemaster.com/beebbs/viewtopic.php?t=5018&sid=4cd0aa19307226bb8537eed2ed1e6caf

This morning I moved the hive to a pallet, and a little later on I saw a few dozen bees buzzing the apple tree, landing and taking off near the spot where I took the swarm.  I've heard there's a swarm pheromone that attracts them, so I took the branches I cut with the swarm and placed them above the inner cover in the vent box and layed one in front of the entrance.  We sprayed the area on the tree down with a water hose, whether that makes a difference or not.  The bees all seem to returning to the hive, though.

-- Kris

[Kris^]

And now Liz tells me the hive is busy and loud, even though the bees are returning into the box.  Think I'll find them in the tree again when I get back there later today?

-- Kris

[Kris^]

I didn't -- they weren't.

-- Kris

[Michael Bush]

>Do I have a lesson in afterswarms coming?

Maybe.  Usually a reproductive swarm doesn't have afterswarms, but sometimes there are several.  Make sure they have room and make sure you open up the brood nest some.

[BeeHopper]

Goods Pics ! Don't forget to say BEEZ  next time.  

[Kris^]

Say BEEZ!!



This was the smaller of two branches the swarm landed on.

Checked the new hive today and the queen is walking around inside, just like she belongs there.

-- Kris