Hi,
   I got a swarm call from a friend who is a bee-landlord for me.   Seems 
a small (2 pounds) swarm settled in an apple tree in the neighbors yard 
next door.

   I grabbed a top, a mesh bottom floor, a very old brood box with frames 
varying from almost black to brand new Pierco.  

   This frame combo has worked great before - but, not this time.  After 
knocking the bees from the branch into the box, I saw the queen walk down 
onto one of the old frames.  I waited a couple of minutes as many bees 
were fanning enthusiastically then slowly put the inner cover and then the 
top on.  

   5 minutes later, there were more bees coming out of the hive than there 
were going in and all fanning had ceased.  The bees crawling up the hive 
front looked like a forming swarm.  Gradually a cluster formed on the same 
branch in the tree.

   Next, I knocked the cluster into a cardboard box - and immediately the 
fanning resumed.  I set the open carton in front of the hive on the ground 
and I left them there overnight.  This morning (cool) there was a tight 
cluster in the carton.  I up-ended the carton over the inner cover so they 
will have to exit through the hive box.

   I have never had a problem with a swarm I could reach easily so I keep 
wondering - were they rejecting the hive box? (Or, maybe I rushed things 
because the neighbors were watching me.)

   

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