My first Swarm

Bobbee · June 28, 2021, 12:21:58 AM

Third post attempt...I had a hive stored on my balcony and noticed a lot of bee activity around it. I thought "Great a swarm has found it.But when I checked later the hive was empty and I figured It had moved on. Well it did sort of. When I looked at my one hive I saw dead bees scattered in front of the hive many with their stingers pulled out and several still battling at the entrance. Rather than populate an empty hive it decided to take over one with honey and brood. I was not fast enough to catch the unpainted swarm queen but I did get a short video of her just before she slipped inside.

Bobbee · June 28, 2021, 12:33:27 AM

I hope this works https://youtu.be/wYJyzQRLF64

Bobbee · June 28, 2021, 12:56:37 AM

Ill try and get a longer video https://youtu.be/9wnUSXCTdZQ

BeeMaster2 · June 28, 2021, 01:04:16 PM

That is called usurpation. I recommend that you put a queen excluder over the entrance or under the bottom box so that the queen cannot leave for at least 3 days. I have watched this happen to 2 hives. They took over the first hive, moved to a another hive and took it over and then left. You will need to requeen this hive.
Jim Altmiller

Bobbee · June 28, 2021, 04:15:15 PM

I cant re-queen right now. Money is too tight.

Bobbee · June 29, 2021, 09:48:23 PM

Well you were right about replacing the queen.I took a look in the hive today and...no bees. Lots of capped honey very few workers and some drones. I am not happy right now. I don't even know if I can replace the colony this late in the year.

Bobbee · June 30, 2021, 06:21:00 PM

Ok now I am confused. The day before yesterday there was a lot of activity around the hive I had stored on my balcony yesterday nothing not a single bee. Also last night no bees in my hive or in the hive on the balcony now? This is the balcony hive. https://youtu.be/lenyvUmBPrA

Ben Framed · June 30, 2021, 06:31:09 PM

Quote
Lots of capped honey

Have you removed the honey? These may be robbers.

Bobbee · June 30, 2021, 10:48:00 PM

There have never been bees or honey in this hive at all this year ...until now.There is still honey in the one hive I started this year just no eggs larvae or queen. Just a couple dozen workers a deep's worth of honey and a few drones. I plan on opening the hive up tomorrow and if there really is a queen and workers in there drop in a couple frames of honey. unless I should wait a few days in order not to drive them off. This is only my second year keeping bees and I am still a little unsure.

AustinB · July 01, 2021, 09:49:05 AM

Quote from: Bobbee on June 30, 2021, 10:48:00 PM
There have never been bees or honey in this hive at all this year ...until now.There is still honey in the one hive I started this year just no eggs larvae or queen. Just a couple dozen workers a deep's worth of honey and a few drones. I plan on opening the hive up tomorrow and if there really is a queen and workers in there drop in a couple frames of honey. unless I should wait a few days in order not to drive them off. This is only my second year keeping bees and I am still a little unsure.

I would move quickly if the hive has honey stores and the bees are gone. This time of year there is a potential to get robbed out very fast.

Bobbee · July 01, 2021, 10:40:53 AM

I have found a source for a 4 frame nuc I will be dropping it into the empty hive on Saturday.