Bees swarmed and returned

[jeff33]

Afternoon all, I had a funny one earlier today. The sky became black with bees and witnessed one of my hive swarming. I put the gear on, bucket in hand and chased them up only to notice 10 minutes after that they were returning to the hive. I assume this is because the queen didn't follow.

Sure enough I opened the hive and found the queen. If I have the dates right she is still virgin so can't clip her. Why would they decide to swarm without the queen, I am puzzled? Unless there was 2nd virgin who got lost or eaten by a bird during the swarm I don't get it.

 

[Martley]

Sounds to me like a mating flight for your virgin Queen. With hive vicinity matings you can get a large number of bees taking to the air on "escort" duties.

 

[jeff33]

Sounds to me like a mating flight for your virgin Queen. With hive vicinity matings you can get a large number of bees taking to the air on "escort" duties.

It was definately a swarm Martley. 1000s of the buggers everywhere and after flying around the church yard and the neighbor's house they started coming back. I had lots on the front of the hive fanning and releasing pheromones and lots on the hedge but they eventually returned to the hive.

 

[Finman]

Sounds to me like a mating flight for your virgin Queen. With hive vicinity matings you can get a large number of bees taking to the air on "escort" duties.

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Swarm returns if they do not get queen with them. So happens with clipped queen.

 

[enrico]

Finmans right, your hive swarmed but the queen, for whatever reason, did not leave. They realised she was left behind so they returned. The swarming urge is still present though so be on your guard, they may give it another go with her. The chances are you have capped queen cells in there, you may even hear the virgins piping at each other. Think what you are going to do when they go tomorrow. Or do an as asap!
E

 

[jeff33]

Finmans right, your hive swarmed but the queen, for whatever reason, did not leave. They realised she was left behind so they returned. The swarming urge is still present though so be on your guard, they may give it another go with her. The chances are you have capped queen cells in there, you may even hear the virgins piping at each other. Think what you are going to do when they go tomorrow. Or do an as asap!
E

I already did an AS on that hive, this was the queenless part. I left 2 queen cells in there 3 weeks ago to avoid cast swarms. As the hive is now broodless they may have filled brood cells with nectar so the queen will not have much space to lay. I have checkerboard the brood box, that's all I can do, I think she is still in her mating period so can't clip her and no brood to do another AS.

 

[dpearce4]

It was a mating flight jeff. I have seen 1000s leave like that and thought it was a swarm before now and do exactly the same as ur describing.

 

[jeff33]

It was a mating flight jeff. I have seen 1000s leave like that and thought it was a swarm before now and do exactly the same as ur describing.

I hope so but if it is I have never seen anything like this...that queen must be special!!

 

[dpearce4]

sometimes the bees just get way over excited and pile out after her.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I left 2 queen cells in there 3 weeks ago to avoid cast swarms.

Looks more like a recipe to guarantee a cast.

I'm with the others - mating flight, seen it a few times at Brynmair, the air was black with bees each time, quick circuit around the field and gardens then sheepishly queueing up to get back into the hive

 

[jeff33]

Looks more like a recipe to guarantee a cast.

I have been done over once leaving only 1 queen cell and it didn't work out so now I usually leave 2 on the same frame so the 1st virgin doesn't have to go far to dart the other one or if one doesn't emerge for some reason there is a back up.

 

[YorkshireBees]

Had a report of a similar event last week at my home apiary.

"They've swarmed again"
Only to be told they never settled and disappeared.
Except my niece took a photo of the front of the hive covered in bees.
When I saw the photo I thought they have probably witnessed a mating flight.
Haven't bothered to check the BB yet as it's too early after leaving just one QC.

 

[Finman]

It was a mating flight jeff. I have seen 1000s leave like that and thought it was a swarm before now and do exactly the same as ur describing.

There is no such mating flight. Never happened. The queen makes several mating flights during 2-3 days.
Urban story.

.

 

[masterBK]

I have been done over once leaving only 1 queen cell and it didn't work out so now I usually leave 2 on the same frame so the 1st virgin doesn't have to go far to dart the other one or if one doesn't emerge for some reason there is a back up.

Leaving two cells is indeed asking for a cast swarm and even if the colony doesn't cast there is no guarantee than the queen returns from her orientation or mating flights or ends up properly mated.

Why not simply take a nucleus with one of the cells as back up as this way you double your chances of getting a properly mated queen and if both successfully mated you can then choose the best of them

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

There is no such mating flight. Never happened. The queen makes several mating flights during 2-3 days.
Urban story.

.

Fair enough Finsky - must have inadvertently popped an E or something whilst spending the day working around the apiary.