This is interesting

[Bill Murray]

This is one of Marleys hives. I saw this at daybreak this morning just got around to snapping a pic. I was in this hive Sunday. It had a Queen (this years), open and capped brood, plenty of open comb and a decent amount of bees(4-5 frames), pollen and nectar.

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It was kind of chilly last night. I just found it interesting.

[BeeMaster2]

Bill,
Our observation hive looks like it has swarmed. The numbers are down by about two thirds in the past week. I didn?t think they would swarm once the temperature started dropping. We never saw any queen cells. We are keeping an eye out for the queen.
Jim Altmiller

[Bill Murray]

They are still hanging there. Bees coming and going through the entrance. Again, an interesting issue. My theroy is a swarm from somewhere. Ill let it ride for a while.

The reason for the post was to just get some conversation started on what can happen not what you think should happen.

[Charlie Bezzina]

Brush them into a box with frames and see if they stay?

[Acebird]

Brush them into a box with frames and see if they stay?

+1 check for queen.

[Bill Murray]

No think not.

Probably loaded with mites. I hate they even landed there.

[G3farms]

Stick them in a box and treat them with OAV, it would be a good time since there is no brood.

[Ben Framed]

Stick them in a box and treat them with OAV, it would be a good time since there is no brood.

Thats what I do G3...

[Bill Murray]

So even if i put them in a box, treated them , then have to get them through winter. If they dont make it what a waste of time No?


And i know someones going to say its free bees. come feb I got all the free bees I want with queens from stock I want. Not some mite infested junk that I have to treat and try to coax through winter.

[TheHoneyPump]

If you see no need or benefit for them, then I would brush them into a tub of soapy water - or sweep them into a nuc box and sell/give away to a competent keeper who can properly deal with the potential issues ahead. 
That does yourself, and your bee neighbours a favour.  1) If they are loaded with mites, you control/eliminate the problem before they can drift into nearby colonies and infest them.  2) if they have suicidal swarmy genetic tendencies, you can eliminate/reduce the gene problem before they can procreate with nearby colonies.
Win-Win : no downside. 

If you leave them?  My wager is the size will trickle as the bees drift and beg into the hive they are sitting on or one nearby.  If there is a queen, eventually there will be a tennis ball there until they just outright abandon her and move into the hive with all the other bees.  She will perish from exposure or be killed trying to enter the hive.

2c

[Bill Murray]

Thanks HP, I wouldnt give/let alone sell them to anyone not knowing where they came from (thats just me though). Already thought about soaping them.
And I should have on the spot, but then heres where I made the mistake, I started thinking. Now come the excuses: I had a very full plate the past couple of days,the weather was awful and They wernt fighting to get in, and in my mind the mite damage was already done, and there was no way they would make it through the next couple of months. So then I snapped a pic and carried on thinking they would be gone the next day. Second mistake, Didnt think through the fact they had to go somewhere and/or be a problem for someone else. But also didnt think they would erect a homeless camp, and stay, or the ramifications of that on the other hives here.

Food for thought. My gut feeling is some one right this minute or this weekend will be saying wonder what happened to my hive? It was booming a couple weeks ago.

Anyway thanks for the input everyone. Im not traveling today so Ill get it rectified when the sun comes up.

[Acebird]

No think not.

Probably loaded with mites. I hate they even landed there.

No more so then any hive without brood.