New hive/swarm

[Mogs1]

New beekeeper here.

I was given a empty hive (national)
The super had new foundation sheets put in and the super had fresh drawn out comb on all the frames.

I caught a swarm at the end of may and put them in the hive, i let them have the brood and the super, been checking them regularly but not much improvement and i cannot find the queen and they are quite agressive!

Today after an inspection i noticed quite a few more bees and not as hostile, they are filling the supers nicely and started to draw out the sheets in the brood box.

Ive inserted some pictures of a few frames in the super.

Can anyone tell me if everything is ok on these frames?

Thank you

 

[Erichalfbee]

I presume you have no queen excluder on?
Look like you have a mated queen laying worker brood in the super with an arc of food over it. So it’s great.
What I would have done is put them into the brood box of foundation which they would have drawn and left the super off.

 

[Mogs1]

That is correct, this is my 3rd swarm i caught, 1st two i did as you said and put them in the brood box, but for some reason they absconded! Was told that it was due to no drawn out comb, so i gave these a super (brood and a half i think its called) i hope that im on the right track.

Thanks for the quick response much appreciated

 

[Erichalfbee]

This might be the queen

 

[Erichalfbee]

But I’m probably wrong

 

[Mogs1]

Ive spent hours trying to find her

 

[Erichalfbee]

Ive spent hours trying to find her

Best leave them alone to grow. She’s there. Just keep a marking pen in your pocket if you spot her but don’t have the hive open for ages trying to find her.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Was told that it was due to no drawn out comb

I'm afraid that whoever told you that didn't know what they were talking about.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Yes. Swarms abscond for a few reasons but no drawn comb is not one of them.
Swarms draw comb at a frantic rate and it seems a great thing to take advantage of. No drone cells either.

 

[Mogs1]

Ye thats the plan, now im happy that shes laying etc i wont bother her too much. Is there anyway i can get them a bit more docile?

also i just bought a nuc and transfered them into another hive they are much friendlier so hopefully they will get on ok

 

[Mogs1]

I'm afraid that whoever told you that didn't know what they were talking about.

Any reason why they absconded? The 2 swarms i lost were nice and quiet could handle them without a suit, i put a feeder in for them to try and keep them but to no avail

 

[Erichalfbee]

Swarms are pretty good at tanking up on a free feed then leaving to try somewhere else.
Swarms shouldn’t be fed unless there is no nectar available and then only after three days or so.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Is there anyway i can get them a bit more docile?

They might just be horrid little black bees. They are the sort that I usually attract in my bait hives. Husband likes the challenge … mad man. When they get too bad I usually re queen them.

 

[Mogs1]

Ok ill just put up with them for a while as they were free

 

[drex]

I only judge overall temperament over a few weeks as it can vary from inspection to inspection

 

[Curly green finger's]

They might just be horrid little black bees. They are the sort that I usually attract in my bait hives. Husband likes the challenge … mad man. When they get too bad I usually re queen them.

Horrible black bees , we’re is the brigade when you want them?

 

[Erichalfbee]

Horrible black bees , we’re is the brigade when you want them?

Do you need back up?
The OP's photo show black bees. He has said they aren't nice

 

[Curly green finger's]

Do you need back up?
The OP's photo show black bees. He has said they aren't nice

No back up but you always profess that blacks are horrible? Even if the op thinks so.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Not true
I’ve said many times that I have black bees. I have two of Ceri’s.

 

[Curly green finger's]

Not true
I’ve said many times that I have black bees. I have two of Ceri’s.

Ok apologies.
I have a few of ceri’s as well .
Interesting I have one or two third generation from his queens and they have kept there gentleness and also workers are still all black .
What I find interesting is sister colony’s that haven’t kept there blackness .