Most likely that particular swarm has a heavy mite load. Hopefully you can give this hive drawn brood comb, with honey and "feed" enough to carry the hive throughout the winter; and, also treat this hive for both Varroa and trachael mites. I have had hives abscound, healthy hives full of quality honey, and I always wonder: Why? I treat all swarms with caution especially outside the swarming season. When I do have the opportunity to catch a swarm I place it in an isolated hospital yard containing other hived swarms, weak hives recovering from requeening poor or sick queens, or hives on medication. All hived swarms get treatments for mites and are placed on watch for disease as well; I also requeen these hives ASAP. After a three month quarantine hives, so long as the hospital yard does not have a problem, are transferred to normal production and/or pollination. Swarms caught from locations adjacent to or known to contain SHB are treated as such and require quarantine in a yard having the beetle. We do not transport hives from areas having the SHB to beetle free areas even though this practice is now being legally done by other beekeepers. Some of my strongest honey producers have been from captured swarms; but now I do not climb 70 foot pine trees nor do I actively solicit swarm catching as a service, although the county sheriff has my number. This is from an operation with a 200 mile span east to west. Regards, Chuck Norton Reidsville, NC :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: -- Visit www.honeybeeworld.com/BEE-L for rules, FAQ and other info --- ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::