Inquisitive Bee's

[Millet]

I have had a new National hive for the past several months which i have decided to assemble frames and all.. the brood box and one super has frames and foundation with the crown board on top.. under the lid obviously.. the queen excluder is in above the brood box.. anyway i put it in a temporary spot not far from it's permanent location to see what happens..

I have had a phone call today from my friend and she is relaying messages to me via mobile phone..

The message are there is several honey bee's (dark ones) of 2 different sizes flying around the hive and upto 2/3 at a time going inside for upto 10min's at a time.. the number of these bee's checking the hive out keep's growing..

Is this a sign that the last swarm that went over may not be happy where they are and maybe these scout's are liking what they see.. Thank you for any constructive information i may receive..

 

[Erichalfbee]

It's a sign that scouts might be investigating your hive.

Take the QX and super off.....

 

[Gilberdyke John]

Why should it be bees from the last swarm that went over? Nothing to discount other potential colonies preparing to swarm.
You might see a swarm arrive at any time or there again you might not
Try a little lemongrass oil on the frames plus a frame of used clean comb from a healthy colony if you can get one.

 

[Millet]

It's a sign that scouts might be investigating your hive.

Take the QX and super off.....

Why take the Queen exluder and super off Eric.. i'm under the impression that any new colonies like the extra space.. bearing in mind i'm interested in this hobby for nature not honey or money..

 

[Millet]

Why should it be bees from the last swarm that went over? from a healthy colony if you can get one.

Why should it not.. ??? .. but thank you and Honey grass oil is being used..

 

[Erichalfbee]

Millet.
Any passing swarm will have found a new home and settled down......and will not be interested in revisiting.
The recommended bait hive size....lots of research ...you could google SEELEY...
is 40 Litres.
i'm interested in this hobby for nature not honey or money..
You don't need the super then....

 

[Beanwood]

The drawn comb is what I've always attracted swarms for me - if you can get one, no matter how dark and dirty, it might help.

My advice -
1. Don't get too excited. But if it does entice a swarm, be prepared to move them soon (Not immediately) after they're safely in, to where you want them to be. (Unless of course you like 3 feet at a time...)

2. For 'anchoring' a swarm (They can quickly move on) add a frame of brood - from the same place you get your drawn comb from.

Please be aware, these are JUST MY VIEWS, and may not be shared by others. (Incidentally swarms that have found my bait hives prefer a 6 frame wooden nuc to anything else - again JUST MY VIEWS ).

 

[Millet]

Millet.

i'm interested in this hobby for nature not honey or money..
You don't need the super then....

So from what you mention i'm inclined to believe don't need any super's..? .. where will the food stores be placed and stored if there's no super's once the brood box is full of the next generation and food..where will the winter food come from if there's no honey supply in the super's.. ?

 

[Millet]

The drawn comb is what I've always attracted swarms for me - if you can get one, no matter how dark and dirty, it might help.

My advice -
1. Don't get too excited. But if it does entice a swarm, be prepared to move them soon (Not immediately) after they're safely in, to where you want them to be. (Unless of course you like 3 feet at a time...)

2. For 'anchoring' a swarm (They can quickly move on) add a frame of brood - from the same place you get your drawn comb from.

Please be aware, these are JUST MY VIEWS, and may not be shared by others. (Incidentally swarms that have found my bait hives prefer a 6 frame wooden nuc to anything else - again JUST MY VIEWS ).

Thank you very much i will take your views on board .. i have a open mind and this is sensible information to me.. Thank's.

 

[wessexmario]

So from what you mention i'm inclined to believe don't need any super's..? .. where will the food stores be placed and stored if there's no super's once the brood box is full of the next generation and food..where will the winter food come from if there's no honey supply in the super's.. ?

you'll provide them with supers to store the honey in, later.

but first, the bees need to want to move in.
- They won't if there isn't the right amount of empty space in the prospective hive. Scout bees will survey the available space, there needs to be "empty space", two boxes filled with foundation doesn't give the appearance of much available space.
- They also like homes that have been used before, so one or two previously drawn combs are enough to tick that box.

The accepted 'best option' is a single brood box with one or two frames of drawn comb, the rest of the box being empty. Once a swarm move in you can quickly provide frames of foundation in the brood box, and only when they've drawn and have filled that, add the super.

 

[Millet]

Thank you for that Mario .. half of the frames have been taken out of the brood box and a empty super placed on top of the crown board.. not that it seem's to have made much difference as they don't seem to have liked there new mansion as they have not been back..

 

[Erichalfbee]

They might have found a better home or their beekeeper has sorted the hive.
I use the bait hive in my garden as a swarm prep weather vane and it has saved a swarm or two from my colonies.

 

[Millet]

Thank you Eric .