What Happened??

[asprince]

I just got off the phone with a friend that told me a sad story. He is a newbee as well, expecting his first package next week. He got a call today about a swam that was pitched on a post about 16" off the ground. He placed an 8 frame 9" body with drawn comb in front of the swarm. After raking a few in, they started marching in. After about 30 minutes, 75% were in the hive. He came back two hours later and they were all GONE. What did he do wrong? He thinks the swarm was so large, that they all would not fit in the hive so they found a new and bigger home. When the time comes for me to retrieve a swarm, I do not want to make the same mistake. Steve   

[Understudy]

The bees did not like the home.

I would say next time a few drops of lemon oil and an excluder over the entrance.

Sincerely,
Brendhan

[Brian D. Bray]

When catching swarms the installation of an excluder between the hive body and the bottom board will go a long ways toward preventing the queen from leaving.  If the equipment was new (especially if freshly painted) and had plastic frames the bees are less likely to like the digs.  The odors from the plastic frames and new paint will drive them away. 

Also it is best to use old equipment, whenever possible, in catching swarms.  Bees prefer that lived in feeling.  Plastic frames should be aired out over several months to get rid of the odor of plastic.  Buy the frames in the fall, set them in the boxes and stack so that air can circulate through and around them over the winter.  If you must use new plastic frames spray them with sugar syrup with a little vanilla or mint flavoring/oil in it.  The syrup will attrack the bees and the flavoring will mask the odor of the plastic.

[Jerrymac]

Just because they are in the box doesn't mean they have settled in and one of the scout bees could have already found another place they like and they go for it. A queen excluder to keep the queen in is the best way to keep them.

[LET-CA]

I had the same thing happen with my first large swarm this year.  I left for 2 hours to allow the final few bees move in.  When I returned, they were all gone.  Needless to say, I now stay with the bees and seal up the box and take them with me.  The stragglers can follow.  I get them home with andd make sure they have nice foundation, top feeders and pollen patties.

[Michael Bush]

Sometimes they just don't like the hive you give them, or the queen didn't find it and they are more interested in her than the box.