Swarm preparations, timing of inspections and artificial swarm

[MattC]

After looking through my bees and Ted Hooper, I have a quick question for the more experienced folk on here (ie almost everyone).

If your colony appears to be making definite swarm preparations- ie larva in a QC with royal jelly- then it's time for AS. That much is clear. But what if you see an unhatched egg in a queen cup? Ted Hooper says that doesn't count. But if it is a 3 day old egg and you leave it more than 5 days you may have missed the boat at your next inspection- if QC is capped after 8 days it might be too late to stop swarm.

With an unclipped queen, and if unable to inspect at less than 7 day intervals, is it reasonable to do an 'early' AS in this situation?

 

[Teemore]

You could do an AS at that point but you could end up with emergency Queen cells which some parties would suggest are of a lesser quality than swarm cells though i think the point is moot for most of us who keep bees as a hobby.

By preference, re-inspect after 3 days. Eggs in a play cell are not a confirmation of impending swarming but a larva and royal jelly is. Mark the frame(s) on which you observed paly cells containing eggs and reinspect after 3 days. In so doing hopefully you will see whether they are making concerted efforts to swarm and have the opportunity to AS. Other things to mark on your inspections are whether the inside of the play cells are polished or matt: if shiny the colony are preparing for an egg to take up residence. Similarly if they are beginning to reduce the size of the neck of the play cell, it is a further indication that they are preparing to swarm within the next few weeks.

 

[oliver90owner]

if unable to inspect at less than 7 day intervals, is it reasonable to do an 'early' AS in this situation?

Consider all the facts you have collected about your hive and make your decision.

From a distance and knowing nothing about the colony build-up the available laying space, the age of the queen, the previous history of the queen (as in 'was she a swarm arrival?'), how many of these queencups are ther and how many are laid up, and any other relevant detail, the only answer you should get on here is 'if in doubt, do the A/S.

There is, of course, an alternative (as there often is) - clip her wing!