Swarm control by killing the queen

[Erichalfbee]

No, here....silly

 

[beehive1234]

Yeah right. Dumb beasts.

 

[Teemore]

Keep an eye out for hidden emergency QCs when you next check this united colony John. It might be a good idea to requeen any colonies created from swarms you have collected this year if you are concerned that they are too swarmy or non-productive.

 

[JohnRoss]

Checked the hive today and all seems well. no new emergency cells, bringing in lots of honey coming in.

 

[Teemore]

Glad to hear all seems to be going well.

A couple of my apiaries are in the middle of the heaviest nectar flow I have encountered since starting beekeeping. Despite having stocked up in T's sale I am now completely out of Manley frames and almost out of shallow supers. I was once advised to have three supers for every hive. I am currently revising that to 4+....
Checked through one fairly good stock last night and really could not believe how much nectar they have brought in. Both brood boxes were choked with nectar and the bees were still flying strongly at 21:30 last night. The noise from their fanning is fantastic. The colony only has eggs and larvae on four frames at present but sealed brood across another 12. Every cell from which a young bee has emerged has been backfilled with nectar - a big change from Saturday and fascinating to see. Unfortunately the queen is waiting for the house bees to clear cells to give her somewhere to lay. Only had a single super of foundation to give them last night but hopefully that will help alleviate nectar congestion. Will hopefully have an extracted super to give back to them tonight. So far that stock hasn't made any swarm preparations and has built up nicely to take advantage of this nectar flow.

 

[meidel]

Glad to hear all is calm for now. My brood boxes are similarly filled with nectar, despite their having super space to fill.