Three mini “swarms” – What’s up?

[Spikedog]

A “swarm” emerged, flew to a tree and within a short period returned to beneath the hive [Q still in hive] – hived in poly Nuc and didn’t thrive – produced drone brood only and despite donating a brood frame/eggs only interest is/was in drawing down cells from drone brood. Ran them through Qx but no DLVQ … Now multiple eggs suggesting laying workers. Second “swarm” (two frames) taken from tree but didn’t stay and flew off and roved about the apiary from tree to tree for a day or so. This evening (some weeks later) noted a clump under the roof of a hive; moved them and they flew to a branch – hived in Nuc (only a frame or so of bees & Q still in hive). Am very familiar with emerging prime swarms and casts but this is puzzling. Any member with similar experience or better can throw some light on what is going on i.e., reasoning.

 

[Julie in Ash]

How old is your Queen? How big was the hive? If it's an older Q (or a very young one) and a bigger hive, perhaps her pheromone levels are up the Swannie and some of the workers went into laying mode. Their own pheromones would then blank hers and spark the mini swarms.

 

[beeno]

A “swarm” emerged, flew to a tree and within a short period returned to beneath the hive [Q still in hive] – hived in poly Nuc and didn’t thrive – produced drone brood only and despite donating a brood frame/eggs only interest is/was in drawing down cells from drone brood. Ran them through Qx but no DLVQ … Now multiple eggs suggesting laying workers. Second “swarm” (two frames) taken from tree but didn’t stay and flew off and roved about the apiary from tree to tree for a day or so. This evening (some weeks later) noted a clump under the roof of a hive; moved them and they flew to a branch – hived in Nuc (only a frame or so of bees & Q still in hive). Am very familiar with emerging prime swarms and casts but this is puzzling. Any member with similar experience or better can throw some light on what is going on i.e., reasoning.

Someone I know of used to talk of queenless starvation swarms. That's all I can offer.