Clustering under hive

[idg]

I have been waiting for a queen to emerge , mate and start laying. On 30/06 I had a look but no eggs. It had only been 8 days since emergence so I was not too worried. However, yesterday (06/06) I noticed a cluster of bees underneath the mesh floor of the hive. I have no idea how long they have been there, or where they came from. There is about 3/4 of a bucket of bees.
Could it be that the mated queen has underhit the landing board?
What is the best way forward. I have lots of bits of hives that are getting me down at the moment and would like to start getting things back together.
Should I assume they are from the hive they are hanging on - do a final check for eggs/queen in the hive, and if I don't find any, move the cluster inside the hive??

 

[Eyeman]

Hi
It's either a swarm from another hive or your Q which as you say has undershot the entrance. I've seen both. The swarms Ive seen arrive have gone under solid floors so if you have an OMF the your mated queen is my bet.
You have 2 options:
1. Do as you say and shake them into together. That's what I have done in the past when they are under an OMF in your situation.
2. Or shake them into a nuc and move to anther site. Then reassess the colonies to see if both or just one is Q+.

Perhaps wait for some other replies.

 

[YorkshireBees]

I've had it happen before with new queens on OMF.

If you have a spare floor, carefully move the one with the cluster on to one side and place the brood box on a new floor in the original position. You probably don't have to shake them into the brood box. I just lowered them down on top and they moved into the brood box all by themselves.
Also depends on how long they have been under the floor as they may have well built comb and the mated queen started laying.

 

[snelgrove]

I have been waiting for a queen to emerge , mate and start laying. On 30/06 I had a look but no eggs. It had only been 8 days since emergence so I was not too worried. However, yesterday (06/06) I noticed a cluster of bees underneath the mesh floor of the hive. I have no idea how long they have been there, or where they came from. There is about 3/4 of a bucket of bees.
Could it be that the mated queen has underhit the landing board?
What is the best way forward. I have lots of bits of hives that are getting me down at the moment and would like to start getting things back together.
Should I assume they are from the hive they are hanging on - do a final check for eggs/queen in the hive, and if I don't find any, move the cluster inside the hive??

Usually a clipped queen being unable to fly goes under the open mesh floor and the returning bees cluster with her. I carnt see a newly mated queen doing this and bees finding her. I reckon it's the old queen and you have no virgin in hive. Open mesh floor queensubstance is transmitted through out hive, this stops any virgins.