September Swarm !!!

[Cars]

As a new beekeeper, I removed supers about a week ago and added a feeder and varoa medication. I have been filling the feeder every other day and all appeared to be OK, although the hive did appear to be exceptionally full of bees, particularly having removed the supers. Anyway, late this morning they decided to swarm, the queen was clipped so could not fly, so after about 30 mins they congregated (about the size of a small rugby ball) on the hive stand under the hive. Grandually they have all gone back into the hive and things have quietened down. I have just opened the hive, to fill the feeder, and thought I would check through the frames and have found the usual stores, larvea and capped brood, but also several queen cells, (atleast one is uncapped).

So, I have added a super to provide more space and would now appreciate guidance on where I go from here. My thoughts are leave them alone to sort themselves out, is it too late to re-queen, do something else ???????

 

[oliver90owner]

Where is the queen, or was she lost? Makes a difference.

Cetainly not too late to requeen.

I would have put the swarm, with queen (if she is not lost) into another box for a few days, on the original site as in an A/S and then re-united them.

Risk with a swarmed queen is that they may well supercede her, so requeening is likely the best route with only a couple of colonies.

What you do with the queen cells is up to you.

RAB

 

[Cars]

All the bees have returned back to the original hive, I assume that the original queen is lost and expect that there is, or will soon be, a new virgin queen in there. What are the pros and cons of just leaving them and then re-queening in the spring ???

 

[oliver90owner]

'...just leaving them...'

First swarm when queen emerges, further cast swarms. 'Just leave them' at your peril.

...pros and cons...

Late in the year.

Read post two.

I assume that the original queen is lost

Don't asume anything. Why re-queen in the spring? She may have failed by then; she may still be a superb egg layer; they may supercede her before any next swarming episode; lack of queen pheromone may cause an early swarm.

RAB

 

[Heather]

Usually do varroa treatment then feed... and feeding every 2 days - they will store like mad- queen nowhere to lay - they think hive crowded - lets swarm.
Personally I give a feed then leave a week for them to store that syrup then reassess. Piling in syrup continuously gives a problem- as you found.

 

[AndreaW]

Usually do varroa treatment then feed... and feeding every 2 days - they will store like mad- queen nowhere to lay - they think hive crowded - lets swarm.
Personally I give a feed then leave a week for them to store that syrup then reassess. Piling in syrup continuously gives a problem- as you found.

Didn't know that - that is what I have been doing. Right will wait a bit after they run out of the current food in the feeder.

 

[Hebeegeebee]

Its not uncommon for a clipped queen to walk back into the hive - or you see her on the grass under a handfull of bees.

You need to ascertain whether you have the queen or not.

The fact that the swarm finished up under the hive stand might well indicate that's where the queen finished up in which case she might be there in a small cluster of bees (!) or walked back into the entrance.

 

[Cars]

Thanks all. My current plan is to have a good look inside this afternoon, when the rain clears. I shall destroy all queen cells and then try and source a new queen (initial calls have not found one yet). I expect that will take a few days to a week, whereupon I should get an indication as to whether there is a queen around. If I can't find a new queen I may have to consolidate with my other hive for the winter, although that will have a huge number of bees and may end up in two 14 x 12 boxes.

 

[Cars]

Just done my "Conan the Destroyer" bit and destroyed the queen cells. There were no signs of either my original queen or any others (although there are a lot of bees and my ability to spot are not as good as the children's). I have left one uncapped queen cell as a contingency plan.

There are still drones around.

The search for a new queen continues.

 

[Winker]

The search for a new queen continues.

Contact Hivemaker on here for a new queen, he "may" be able to help