Dumb question #78

[Monsieur Abeille]

Am I right in assuming that drones cannot get through a QE?

 

[HaroldC]

Am I right in assuming that drones cannot get through a QE?

Yes

 

[Monsieur Abeille]

Thanks

 

[victor meldrew]

This is why one has to be careful when doing certain manipulations as drones trapped above a QX die ,usually stuck in their attempts to get below same and thus out to fly!

John W

 

[Monsieur Abeille]

This is why one has to be careful when doing certain manipulations as drones trapped above a QX die ,usually stuck in their attempts to get below same and thus out to fly!

John W

What got me thinking was the suggestion that a QE could be left under a new swarm or AS for a few days to get it settled and guarentee Her Maj not abdicating. Not for too long I guess is the answer.

 

[drstitson]

The Queen Traps that rooftops will be selling this spring are designed to be left on for 3-4 weeks at **** of swarming season.

perhaps he can enlighten us about what paradise farms have found re drones dying trapped in the excluder.

 

[Midland Beek]

What got me thinking was the suggestion that a QE could be left under a new swarm or AS for a few days to get it settled and guarentee Her Maj not abdicating. Not for too long I guess is the answer.

An artificial swarm is not likely to leave the hive, especially if it has at least some unsealed brood.

A real swarm might abandon a hive, especially if they have already made up their mind to set up home somewhere else. Some might use a queen excluder to confine it - I never have. A swarm can bring with it some drones, but never a huge amount. And, of course, drones can be an important component of a swarm if the swarm contains an unmated queen.

 

[Heather]

I usually put under a captured swarm for 48 hours.
first 24hrs - no food to allow them to dispense with food they have brought with them. After that I feed and the bees seem to stay where food is on tap so remove QE on the 3rd day. Seems to work.

Fast learning curve for me- got a large tricky swarm- brought back to an empty hive. Didn't block door- and as I tipped in over the frames -they poured out of the door- Hint- if tipping in- block door exit for 10 mins!
I usually walk them in now, then put QE under.

 

[Cazza]

I've never seen the need for QE under for a captured swarm. I usually walk them in and leave them be. The less fiddling the better IMHO.
Cazza

 

[Poly Hive]

In answer to the question of the OP I would say normally.

Excluders can and do get damaged and so queens and drones do get up.

PH

 

[oliver90owner]

A real swarm might abandon a hive,

There are options, of course. One is to close them up, Another way is the queen excluder. Another way is to move the swarm away from the area. Adding a frame of open brood is yet another.

As Cazza says, walking them in (better done in the evening) and maybe also after confining them to a skep, or small box for a day is fairly successful.

Local conditions at the time can be taken into account and all the options/risks considered.

No hard and fast rules.

Regards, RAB