Swarm Prevention

[Tom Bick]

As a general indicator early in the swarm season ... Its one of the signs to watch for. I've come to the conclusion that no matter how much you look for the signs though the little beggars will find a way to defeat you !

That's because you are looking in the wrong direction if this advice is anything to go by.

Sorry but it's simply impossible to follow or take as a sign to swarming. Many times a brood box will be dripping with nectar during inspections and the bees have no intention of swarming. Don't know who told you this but it's fits on the shelf along side drone brood been a sign of swarm intentions.

 

[Thymallus]

Any village idiot with one eye and half a brain should know they are about to swarm once they start building queen cells

Sounds right up your street.

Perhaps you should read HM's post in it's entirety as you seem to have jumped to the wrong conclusion and are giving very bad advice. It is not unusual to find empty brood cells full of nectar during a strong flow, they stuff it anywhere they can. It is NOT a sign of imminent swarming.

 

[Hivemaker.]

Its one of the signs to watch for.

Sorry but from my experience i don't find that it is.

I've come to the conclusion that no matter how much you look for the signs though the little beggars will find a way to defeat you !

In my early years i may of agreed with you to a point, but very much less so now.

 

[pargyle]

That's because you are looking in the wrong direction if this advice is anything to go by.

Sorry but it's simply impossible to follow or take as a sign to swarming. Many times a brood box will be dripping with nectar during inspections and the bees have no intention of swarming. Don't know who told you this but it's fits on the shelf along side drone brood been a sign of swarm intentions.

I must admit that I tend to not worry about swarming until I see queen cells but i have seen Bees 'backfilling' as well as read about it and it does sometimes appear to be something that happens prior to swarm preparations really getting under way. The same as the Queen tends to get slimmed down in readiness and bees seen occasionally bearding on the front of the hive are signposts tonlook out for. They may not, in isolation, be absolute indicators but, as an avid bee watcher, I tend to look for behaviour that is out of the ordinary and then question what is happening. They lead me up the garden path more times than enough but once in a while you get to think 'Yes' ... That's what you are up to - sadly, in my csse, usually after the event !

However this is all a bit esoteric ...my view is that Demaree is the most likely method to reduce the likelihood of them swarming before any obvious signs are seen and you only need to know there are, ideally, no queen cells in the hive. Once you see queen cells you need to act ... Immediately ... With one of the many AS methods because the odds are pretty strong in favour of your bees heading off to pastures new ... And yes - I've put off AS for a day or so based on my timeline calculations .... Big mistake ... See queen cells .. Do something there and then or the chances are you'll lose them..... .I've learned the lesson about being prepared when the swarming season arrives. ....

 

[Swarm]

Nectar deposited in brood comb is a sign of a very good flow, it has to go somewhere and they will move it in due process but in the meantime it's all hands to the pumps. Of course, it's up to the beekeeper to keep up with the flow by adding supers as necessary. Failure to do that could quite easily lead the beekeeper to believe it was a precursory sign if the bees begin swarm preparation.
Last year was a classic example, I had stuffed out double broods with multiple supers, ran out of super combs and had to pop foundation boxes on just to give them some room while I extracted and returned on production line level.

 

[pargyle]

Sorry but from my experience i don't find that it is.




In my early years i may of agreed with you to a point, but very much less so now.

Yes .. With your years of experience and the large number of hives I would expect you to have an almost sixth sense of what is happening ... But you must have some physical signs that guide you ? I can only go on what I have seen in my hives and others that I work with ....I'm sure we would all value some insight as to what you look for ... Not what you don't look for ?

 

[Tom Bick]

I must admit that I tend to not worry about swarming until I see queen cells but i have seen Bees 'backfilling' as well as read about it and it does sometimes appear to be something that happens prior to swarm preparations really getting under way. The same as the Queen tends to get slimmed down in readiness and bees seen occasionally bearding on the front of the hive are signposts tonlook out for. They may not, in isolation, be absolute indicators but, as an avid bee watcher, I tend to look for behaviour that is out of the ordinary and then question what is happening. They lead me up the garden path more times than enough but once in a while you get to think 'Yes' ... That's what you are up to - sadly, in my csse, usually after the event !
....

There are quite a few triggers to swarming most we know and then a few we probably don't know but filling the brood frames with nectar or honey is just not reliable and just coincidence. Bees bearding at the entrance will indicate a full and possible cramped hive with a swarm about to take off or the hive has been held back by some bad weather, these bees can also be grumpy and sting when approaching. Obviously foraging bees not foraging as who wants to miss the swarm out foraging.

 

[Millet]

Yes ...but we are talking about the less obvious signs that precede the point when they start building queen cells ... Any village idiot with one eye and half a brain should know they are about to swarm once they start building queen cells ... Do try to keep up !

Hahahahahaha classic.

 

[pargyle]

Sounds right up your street.

Perhaps you should read HM's post in it's entirety as you seem to have jumped to the wrong conclusion and are giving very bad advice. It is not unusual to find empty brood cells full of nectar during a strong flow, they stuff it anywhere they can. It is NOT a sign of imminent swarming.

I've never said it was ... But if there us NOT a flow on then I would expect back filling to be an unusual event in the hive ?

At least I out forward observations and thoughts that can be debated rather than the constant nitbpicking argumentative commentary that we see from you and your camp follower .… precious little advice or positive comments ... Best you get back under your bridge !

 

[Thymallus]

But ... As a general indicator early in the swarm season ... Its one of the signs to watch for.

I prefer to give accurate sound advice, rather than give misleading information and defend it.

 

[pargyle]

I prefer to give accurate sound advice, rather than give misleading information and defend it.

Well looking at your past posts on here I think you must be talking about another forum you frequent that I dont ?

 

[Thymallus]

Well looking at your past posts on here I think you must be talking about another forum you frequent that I dont ?

Only this evening I have posted some information on this forum that is very helpful for those who are DIY challenged and wish to buy a ready made insulated cosy. I even posted a picture of one they could buy for not too much cash.
Just in case you haven't read it it can be found from this link.

 

[pargyle]

Only this evening I have posted some information on this forum that is very helpful for those who are DIY challenged and wish to buy a ready made insulated cosy. I even posted a picture of one they could buy for not too much cash.
Just in case you haven't read it it can be found from this link.

I've seen it ... But it reads in a very patronising way ... When people in that thread are trying to insulate timber hives with skip fodder ... Not everyone can afford to go out and buy Paynes Poly's at £100 a time to replace timber ones that have life left in them ... Although I agree with your basic premise ...

But its a start - if you could try and work on your bedside manner and footwork a bit ... The jury's out on your other posts but for that one:

6 6 5 6

 

[Thymallus]

At least I out forward observations and thoughts that can be debated

Ahhhh I see, debate is what you want-
Debate
Noun=a formal discussion on a particular matter in a public meeting or legislative assembly, in which opposing arguments are put forward.
Verb=argue about (a subject), especially in a formal manner.

synonyms: discuss, confer about, talk over, talk through, talk about, exchange views on, exchange views about, thrash out, argue, argue about, argue the pros and cons of, dispute, wrangle over, bandy words concerning, contend over, contest, controvert, moot;

 

[Thymallus]

I've seen it ... But it reads in a very patronising way ...

Glad you think so, I work hard on Patronising!

 

[Thymallus]

But its a start - if you could try and work on your bedside manner and footwork a bit

I didn't realise you were in charge of this forum and could decide what and how other should post. You must have hidden your "admin" signature so as to fool us all.

 

[pargyle]

I didn't realise you were in charge of this forum and could decide what and how other should post. You must have hidden your "admin" signature so as to fool us all.

Only trying to assist you to become an acceptable part of the human race now you have come out from under the bridge ....

 

[Finman]

Nectar deposited in brood comb is a sign of a very good flow,

Swarm is right

My hives stop swarming when main yield begins.

Clustering outside of hive means that you are late in enlargening the hive

 

[Thymallus]

Only trying to assist you to become an acceptable part of the human race

It's overrated....as you'll find out if you ever manage to get there.

 

[pargyle]

It's overrated....as you'll find out if you ever manage to get there.

Yes .... Well I know MY limitations ....