Queen mating flight or another swarm?

[RobKing]

I had one of my hives swarm on Monday 21st April - a very warm morning - and saw the queen fly off amongst the rest of her crew. However, many bees remained behind, loads of them, together with a new queen (which I sadly missed). There are no other QCs in the hive at all, I have made sure of this and I am sure she will too. Today I saw what looked like the beginnings of another swarm from the same hive - loads of activity at the front of the hive, with the queen on the alighting board and hardly any bees inside (I did see some apparently feeding on pollen though). Was this the beginnings of a swarm again, or is it the beginnings of a mating flight? I did see loads of drones taking to the air, but there were lots of other bees flying also. So I carefully picked up the queen by the wings and put her back in the hive, and within a minute all the bees were back in with her. Did I do the right thing? Whatever Nature dictates will inevitably happen, I guess, whether it is another swarm initiation (?) or the start of a mating flight. Would the queen leaving the hive like this cause a lot of excitement in this way? Any advice please.

 

[Heather]

Yes, lots of activity if a mating flight. Excitement all round.
Maybe better to let the bees sort it and not handle the queen actually as rather a delicate time for her.

 

[Finman]

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I have seen never activity during mating flight even if i have mated hunreds of gueens in my cottage yard.

Bees have cleasing flights a'clock 14-15 but at same is the best mating time too and drones fly. But bees and drones fly even if they have not virgin queen there. It is warmest time of the day.

The queen makes over 10 mating flights during 2-3 days. And before that it visits several times outside the hive to orientate the hive site.

 

[Heather]

At my apiary virgin left on flight today and lots of bees++ at entrance fanning like mad. Great activity and excitement.
Was possibly this scenario.

 

[itma]

Yes, lots of activity if a mating flight. Excitement all round.
Maybe better to let the bees sort it and not handle the queen actually as rather a delicate time for her.

I find it surprising, the number of experienced beekeepers that have never seen one.
Doen't always happen, that's for sure.

I'm not sure that it ever happens with mini mating nucs, like Apideas. But with nuc boxes and full-sized hives, yes, it does happen. What amused and amazed me the first time I saw it was the 'body language' of the bees returning to (and bearding on) the hive. Almost apologetic as they trooped back inside.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

What amused and amazed me the first time I saw it was the 'body language' of the bees returning to (and bearding on) the hive. Almost apologetic as they trooped back inside.

Yup - they all stream out as if swarming then, just a few yards further they seem to realise they've got over excited, return rather sheepishly to the hive and queue up to go back in pretending all along it was part of the plan!