Is it a swarm?

[Cascaispal]

Morning All,

Bought a hive a few weeks ago and saw scouts checking it out almost immediately. We now have hundreds of bees in the hive but certainly not the thousands that I have seen in swarm videos. What is going on? Thanks.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Morning All,

Bought a hive a few weeks ago and saw scouts checking it out almost immediately. We now have hundreds of bees in the hive but certainly not the thousands that I have seen in swarm videos. What is going on? Thanks.

What’s inside the box, apart from the bees that is?

 

[enrico]

Check it out after dark. Put your ear to the side, if there are bees buzzing in it then you may have a swarm. If there are no frames it could be hanging from the roof though so be careful
E

 

[Newbeeneil]

I have had a similar experience.
I opened one of my bait hives today to find a cluster of a few hundred bees. Assumed it might just be a group of scouts but looked in again tonight and found a tight cluster still there. I think it looks like I have a micro swarm!!! Will it survive?

 

[enrico]

Only if there is a queen

 

[Cascaispal]

It was a ready formed hive with frames. I don't suppose there is any way to tell if a queen is present? Thanks, all!

 

[Beefriendly]

I don't suppose there is any way to tell if a queen is present? Thanks, all!

Yes, have a look for her. If you fail to find her look for evidence of her laying eggs/young larva.

 

[charlievictorbravo]

You may have a small cast swarm, headed by a virgin queen so she may not lay for a week or three.

CVB

 

[Cascaispal]

Thanks all! Will look in another week.

 

[Wingy]

You may have a small cast swarm, headed by a virgin queen so she may not lay for a week or three.

That would be my guess. Keep an eye open for pollen going in. A good sign they have moved in & have a mated Q