Swarm Question

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Joined
Nov 24, 2015
Messages
978
Reaction score
139
Location
Dorset
Hive Type
National
Number of Hives
4
Yesterday I collected a swarm from a hedge and housed them in a nuc. This evening a smaller swarm, I expect a cast, was hanging in the same hedge about two feet away from where the original swarm was hanging. I dutifully collected and housed them in my final nuc.

Given the second one’s location, could it be bees from swarm one, going back to where they settled or is it more likely a cast?
I’m concerned there may not be a queen in todays bunch as yesterday’s swarm seem quite content in their new home.

I’d appreciate your thoughts and any advice - other than go to Specsavers to find queen cells! (That’s assuming they’re from my hives).
 
If you collected the swarm in the day then it is likely the smaller one consists of bees that weren't collected with the rest as they were flying or doing other things (checking out a new site etc) ie just ones you missed. I would simply unite them. Maybe both were cast swarms from the same hive and both will have a virgin queen.
 
If you collected the swarm in the day then it is likely the smaller one consists of bees that weren't collected with the rest as they were flying or doing other things (checking out a new site etc) ie just ones you missed. I would simply unite them. Maybe both were cast swarms from the same hive and both will have a virgin queen.

Thanks for replying. The second lot were definitely not in the hedge overnight after collecting the larger swarm as I kept checking and did collect a couple of extra balls of bees along the way. My good lady saw a large amount of bees going into the hedge the following day, but didn't see where they came from.
I peeked into the nuc they're in tonight and they are all huddled in the feeder section (Paynes nuc) with no visible attempts at cell building happening.

If tomorrow they're still the same I would guess there is no queen and could be united with the others?
 
Thanks for replying. The second lot were definitely not in the hedge overnight after collecting the larger swarm as I kept checking and did collect a couple of extra balls of bees along the way. My good lady saw a large amount of bees going into the hedge the following day, but didn't see where they came from.
I peeked into the nuc they're in tonight and they are all huddled in the feeder section (Paynes nuc) with no visible attempts at cell building happening.

If tomorrow they're still the same I would guess there is no queen and could be united with the others?

The feeder section is just a damn nuisance on those nucs. I blocked it off in mine.
 

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