Clicking sound???? Ideas?

[Daz]

Cast swarm caught last week (mine) large nuc, saw the virgin queen, hive has been busy around 2 ish for last couple of days, however at 5 tonight lots of bees on front of nuc and clicking sound from within. At first thought they fanning, but on closer inspection they didn't seem to be, thoughts the QB could have got lost???

 

[Magwat]

You hear a crackling sound when bees are drawing comb which your swarm would be doing. I have no idea though what actually makes the sound. I'm sure someone will know.

 

[Daz]

I have done a little research, think it could be one of two scenarios either they were stressed because VQB hasnt made it back or they could have been chewing the entrance as they want more room, fingers crossed it is the 2nd of the two it was quite a large swarm, bigger than the prime, would like to think madam made it back, seem strange they were on hive front. Weather permitting will observe tomorrow.

 

[Madge]

I have done a little research, ... either they were stressed because VQB hasnt made it back or they could have been chewing the entrance as they want more room, ...

How did you do your research?

 

[TryingToLetThemBee]

If it's a poly nuc a sound which sounds for all the world like a bee flying full tilt into the back wall is them chewing the entrance, pulling at the poly which "plucks" it.

 

[Daz]

How did you do your research?

Just the internet and alot of reading and checking the nuc entrance, the better half and i both heard it, she thought more like a clock ticking and i thought like water dripping. Don't really want to open the Nuc, dont want to risk upsetting her potential majesty (if she is still there)

This is all i could really find....

"I've just read A. E. McArthur's "Milestones in Beekeeping and the Swarm Trigger Discovered" in which he says such a noise is made by a queenless and/or stressed colony. I heard this a couple of times last year, once from a newly housed swarm (Q+) but I'm not sure if the other was queenless or not. Something to look out for next year!"


"I too today started to hear that crackling sound coming from my Hive. Searched the net for info, this and one other forum were all I could find on the Topic. After reading a few posts about chewing, I went and studied my Hive very closely, and sure enough, there were bees chewing on the inside of the Entrance reducer opening. They must want a larger opening. I guess they know best, so I removed it and no more noise."

 

[Daz]

If it's a poly nuc a sound which sounds for all the world like a bee flying full tilt into the back wall is them chewing the entrance, pulling at the poly which "plucks" it.

No not a poly nuc, off to take a picture of the entrance, weather looks likes like its unsettled, so will compare in a few days to see if they want more access

 

[Karsal]

You can here the bees walking on the wire mesh floor on both the P£$nes poly hive and the poly nuc.