A newly hived swarm

[Beedogg]

I am an absolute bee-ginner. I was given a couple of new hives which until recently were empty. I am waiting for nucs. About a week ago a friend who has bees helped me capture a swarm from one of his hives and they are now safely established in one of my hives.

I did my first hive inspection yesterday. Incredibly exciting and interesting. I found the unmarked Queen and found that the workers were busy drawing out cells in the brood box and filling drawn foundation in the super. However, and this is the crux of my question, I didn't see any evidence of laying.

Is it too soon (8 days) and, if so, when should I expect to see filled brood cells and eggs?

 

[Beedogg]

And, as a supplementary question, should I be treating for Varroa now, before she starts laying?

 

[Earthboy]

And, as a supplementary question, should I be treating for Varroa now, before she starts laying?

You just don't know how loaded that question is! Do you see any mites to treat? Or is it an automatic reflex because everyone else is doing or telling you to?

 

[Beedogg]

You just don't know how loaded that question is! Do you see any mites to treat? Or is it an automatic reflex because everyone else is doing or telling you to?

The latter. At this stage I really know nothing, except what I have read. I haven't yet seen any mites but, to be honest, on my first ever hive inspection I wasn't really looking for them. So I have no evidence to suggest that I have a significant problem, just a nagging question as to whether or not I should be doing anything to head-off a problem.

 

[Earthboy]

The latter. At this stage I really know nothing, except what I have read. I haven't yet seen any mites but, to be honest, on my first ever hive inspection I wasn't really looking for them. So I have no evidence to suggest that I have a significant problem, just a nagging question as to whether or not I should be doing anything to head-off a problem.

Ultimately it's up to you. I wouldn't until you check the presence of and the need to treat mites.

Such preventive, proactive, and presumptive treatments have, in the past, resulted in creating drug-resistant mites, analogous to antibiotic-resistant, say, ear infection thanks to often unnecessary abuse of antibiotics in such proactive treatments, let alone the ultimate creation of MRSA. As a result, nowadays some people go to the hospital and get killed, however inadvertently.

 

[Boston Bees]

Firstly, it's almost certainly too soon to be adding a super. A swarm, even a big one, can go into just a brood box to start with, so that they concentrate on drawing the wax out and getting the brood box filled with brood. The super can be added once the brood box is 70% filled with brood. Not a disaster, but something to bear in mind for next time. Is your super above a queen excluder?

Secondly, how long before you see the queen laying depends on whether she was a mated queen, or a virgin queen. If the former you might see eggs as soon as there are fully drawn cells in the brood box. If the latter, she needs to get mated properly first, so you might not see eggs for a month. Be patient and leave them to get on with it.

Should you treat? I would, personally, given that you have no idea what varroa load the swarm has brought with it. I would put a couple of Apivar strips in there (because I don't have an oxalic acid sublimator - if I did I would probably use that). But the act of swarming does knock the varroa load down somewhat, so if you don't want to treat at this point, not a problem - just make sure you then do in late August/early September (in fact I would do that regardless of whether you treat now or not).

 

[Beedogg]

Thank you for that information. Very useful. Maybe I was premature adding a super (above a queen excluder). I'll know next time.

I don't know if the queen was the old one from the old hive (she had been unmarked) or a new one. When I saw her I she appeared to be moving around alone as opposed to being surrounded by workers as I've read is sometimes the case. Not sure if that's relevant.

I'll have another look in a few days and see if there is any progress. I find it quite fascinating and I'm resisting the urge to look more often.

 

[Erichalfbee]

The latter. At this stage I really know nothing, except what I have read. I haven't yet seen any mites but, to be honest, on my first ever hive inspection I wasn't really looking for them. So I have no evidence to suggest that I have a significant problem, just a nagging question as to whether or not I should be doing anything to head-off a problem.

You’re a beginner and there is plenty of time to investigate varroa and the relationship with bees
I always treat swarms. Yes they can be fairly low in mites but they can be severely infested.
As for Earthboy’s suggestion of resistance I use OAV and “ Resistance is Futile”
Go with Boston’s suggestion treat now and after summer or just after summer. You are going to get the best results with no brood
Good luck

 

[Erichalfbee]

Thank you for that information. Very useful. Maybe I was premature adding a super (above a queen excluder). I'll know next time.

I don't know if the queen was the old one from the old hive (she had been unmarked) or a new one. When I saw her I she appeared to be moving around alone as opposed to being surrounded by workers as I've read is sometimes the case. Not sure if that's relevant.

I'll have another look in a few days and see if there is any progress. I find it quite fascinating and I'm resisting the urge to look more often.

If you have no eggs at 8 days she is probably a virgin. Mated swarm queens lay straight away. They are in a hurry

 

[Beedogg]

Thanks everyone

 

[Newbeeneil]

Personally I wouldn't treat until the queen is laying. I have had swarms abscond when treated when they don't have brood to anchor them. Treat before any sealed brood is evident.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I am an absolute bee-ginner. I was given a couple of new hives which until recently were empty. I am waiting for nucs. About a week ago a friend who has bees helped me capture a swarm from one of his hives and they are now safely established in one of my hives.

I did my first hive inspection yesterday. Incredibly exciting and interesting. I found the unmarked Queen and found that the workers were busy drawing out cells in the brood box and filling drawn foundation in the super. However, and this is the crux of my question, I didn't see any evidence of laying.

Is it too soon (8 days) and, if so, when should I expect to see filled brood cells and eggs?

She may be a virgin waiting to mate so I wouldn't worry too much - what they need now is peace and quiet to get on with it.
as for varroa - it's a swarm, so an unknown quantity unless the colony is so riddled with varroa they are on the verge of collapse you will be very lucky to see a mite, even if there is a bad infestation. So my advice would be to treat ASAP, you would be foolish to do otherwise. Either give them a trickle treatment of Oxalic Acid, or if you lnow anyone with a varrox ask them nicely to come and give them a vape.
As for resistance, depends what you use, there is no restistance to Oxalic, nor to the majority of the other treatments.

 

[oliver90owner]

Personally I wouldn't treat until the queen is laying. I have had swarms abscond when treated when they don't have brood to anchor them. Treat before any sealed brood is evident.

So, so sensible. Virgin queens have nothing (much) to anchor them to your hive until she is fattened up and laying. That means peace and quiet from the attentions of a beginner. They do not need interu-tions, particularly if the queen is about to go, or is on, a mating flight.

A quick check, to see if larvae are present (once a week is often enough) is useful if you intend to treat against the mite. Otherwise, give them three weeks.

 

[Markthebuilder]

Because it’s possible you have a virgin feed and wait untill you see brood this will give the bees time to settle build comb etc then you can treat As per directions of your chosen product. Immediately Befor doing that try doing a sugar role …. Greg exp of managing bees and I’m sure everyone would be interested in your results. Good luck and welcome to the forum