DominicReady
New Bee
- Joined
- Oct 7, 2011
- Messages
- 7
- Reaction score
- 0
- Location
- Cornwall
- Hive Type
- National
- Number of Hives
- 1
My colony swarmed on Thursday 10th May, and fortunately I was able to collect it, and put it into a new brood box, with new frames (undrawn foundation) on the original site.
On Friday 18th May, just 8 days later, it appears that they tried to swarm again (I was at work, but my neighbours said that the air was thick with bees, and that it looked like the bees were trying to swarm). The only thing that stopped them was that I'd put a Queen Excluder between the entrance and brood box - so I guess the colony simply had to return when they realised they'd left the Queen behind.
When I inspected last Saturday 19th May, there were indeed (sealed) Queen cells. I destroyed these, and made sure to add the super from the original hive to give them more space.
I inspected again today (Sun 27th) - just 8 days later - and once again there were two sealed queen cells, and a queen cup with larvae inside. I've destroyed these.
I'm wondering why the colony is so keen to swarm, and what I can do about it.
It just seems odd, because they've already swarmed, but they still seem to want to leave their new home very quickly.
I should say that I've now clipped the Queen's wings, and that I haven't removed the Queen excluder from between entrance and b/box.
My hive is a national, and I'm wondering whether I should use my first super as the 'half' of a brood and a half.
Alternatively, I can do an artificial swarm. Trouble is, I can't keep buying new hives and equipment. I'd assumed just having one spare hive would be enough (up until a month ago I only had the one hive!)
Any advice welcome!
Thanks
On Friday 18th May, just 8 days later, it appears that they tried to swarm again (I was at work, but my neighbours said that the air was thick with bees, and that it looked like the bees were trying to swarm). The only thing that stopped them was that I'd put a Queen Excluder between the entrance and brood box - so I guess the colony simply had to return when they realised they'd left the Queen behind.
When I inspected last Saturday 19th May, there were indeed (sealed) Queen cells. I destroyed these, and made sure to add the super from the original hive to give them more space.
I inspected again today (Sun 27th) - just 8 days later - and once again there were two sealed queen cells, and a queen cup with larvae inside. I've destroyed these.
I'm wondering why the colony is so keen to swarm, and what I can do about it.
It just seems odd, because they've already swarmed, but they still seem to want to leave their new home very quickly.
I should say that I've now clipped the Queen's wings, and that I haven't removed the Queen excluder from between entrance and b/box.
My hive is a national, and I'm wondering whether I should use my first super as the 'half' of a brood and a half.
Alternatively, I can do an artificial swarm. Trouble is, I can't keep buying new hives and equipment. I'd assumed just having one spare hive would be enough (up until a month ago I only had the one hive!)
Any advice welcome!
Thanks