The look of a swarm - a question

[louiseww]

I noticed that my new nucleus of bees were swarming yesterday morning - I followed them and found that they had gathered underneath a large trampoline two doors up. The people very kindly let me collect them. Getting underneath to collect them was an interesting experience for two reasons. First they had gathered in a perfect ball under a circle pattern in the centre of the trampoline. Secondly because I was looking at them in the shade they looked so beautiful and were glistening as though they were covered in honey! Does anyone know why they looked so shiny which I have never noticed when inspecting my bees normally.
They hived very quickly and I am hoping they will stay as the weather has turned windy and showery again. Does anyone recommend putting the queen excluder underneath to stop the queen leaving? I have had a few swarms leave recently after all the effort of collection and have wondered what I am doing wrong.
Thanks
Louise

 

[itchyhives]

I have never done it but maybe a frame of brood it you have one spare might keep her and being a nuc will help with numbers. Love it when they are at a nice easy to retrieve.

 

[plumberman]

How long have you had this nucleus for and where did it come from?

Unusual (assuming they have been given sufficient space to expand) for a nucleus to swarm. How often had you been checking them?

 

[louiseww]

How long have you had this nucleus for and where did it come from?

Unusual (assuming they have been given sufficient space to expand) for a nucleus to swarm. How often had you been checking them?

This was an artificial swarm from my two hives about the last week of April - it was done by the chairman of the association because I had just only been out of hospital for a week after a heart attack. However, the next day there was a small swarm from one of my hives in next door's garden and because I didn't have much energy I collected and added to this AS which was queenless - but with queencells -liberal sprinkling of sugar and they settled in nicely. I know it wasn't the right thing to do, but needs must in a crisis. So I am now presuming that the queen cells hatched, queen mated and one of the queens had to leave. So pleased that I managed to catch them. A good sized swarm - I am just about to feed them as the weather has turned into windy and wet!
Louise