Can anyone explain this behaviour please

[keithgrimes]

I have a hive that lost a swarm 14 days ago, my fault as I had not inspected for 16 days prior to that. The day after I lost the swarm I opened up and broke down all but one queen cell (there were four or five). This morning at 8.30 I was walking past the apiary and saw a swarm cloud above the same hive. On closer investigation there were thousands of bees plastered to the front of the hive and the landing board, and hundreds more flying around above. Then I realised they were actually going IN to the hive, not leaving. After 15 minutes things were back to normal. Very warm and still morning today compared to cool and windy over the last three days. Any ideas guys? are they getting ready to swarm again? What action if any do i need to take?

 

[Monsieur Abeille]

New Queenie going a'courtin?

 

[oliver90owner]

0830? A bit early in the day for an actual mating flight. One of my recent splits were doing the same at 10:00h. One of the two that did it previously. Bees running all over the place.

RAB

 

[SteveJ]

Was a swarm from elsewhere trying to take over a weak hive. I've heard of them doing this but never witnessed.
SteveJ

 

[Winker]

I had the same thing this week but at 2pm and the queen was no more than 2-3 days out of her cell, which i though was rather early.

They had their butt in the air spraying Pheromones at the hive entrance

 

[psafloyd]

I had the same thing this week but at 2pm and the queen was no more than 2-3 days out of her cell, which i though was rather early.

They had their butt in the air spraying Pheromones at the hive entrance

So that must have been to bring her home?

 

[MuswellMetro]

Was it the first sunny day for some time, HM could have been waiting in the Hive for a clear windless day and gone as soon as possible

 

[keithgrimes]

Was it the first sunny day for some time, HM could have been waiting in the Hive for a clear windless day and gone as soon as possible

It was the first sunny day for about eight days

 

[buzz lightyear]

I'd say a mating flight.