??>A common method to try to control swarming here in Australia is to put
> foundation in the brood chamber and lift the brood combs being replaced
> into the supers above the excluder.

I used the above method for many years but found did little to stop swarming
other than provide some cluster space and give bees comb to draw.

We use empty drawn brood dark comb. The books say the queen stops egg laying
three days before the swarm leaves so she will be able to fly.
We have observed that many times the old queen will resume egg laying when
provided with some empty dark brood comb (when the brood nest is
plugged)however at times the virgins will lead a swarm if the bees do not
tear down the cells.
The virgin lead swarms are usually smaller than a old queen swarm.
We use the method Trevor talks about but use old dark brood comb instead of
foundation when the purpose is swarm control.
I can spot a hive with cells getting ready to swarm very easy. The bees are
calm and far more in the hive at mid day and the bees are all looking up at
you from the frame spaces. (was shown to me by my 90 year old first
beekeeping mentor).
Once you see what I speak of then you can quickly make some swarm
prevention.

bob h.

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