Digest Cesar Flores wrote:
Dear Cesar:
Sorry about a delayed reply. I am busy as "bee" with my work but I
thought that it would be nice to contribute to this bee question. Most
of the time bees will engorge themselves with honey (sort of a meal for
the road).  As you know, bees will accept newcomers who contribute
something to a colony (water, nectar, pollen, honey). So having their
honey pouch full would be a contributing factor for the colony and thus
be accepted to a new colony.  Fanning at the entrance was probably an
exchange of "peace offering" pheromones (knowing how capable honey bees
are, I would not doubt if they have such a trick in their bag) which
served as their pass to the new home.  I think that you are right.
You were dealing with a "queenless" or "dry" swarm.  The bees would not
have abandoned their own queen to take up residence in a strange
colony.  Unlike their human captors, fidelity is a deeply ingrained
quality of honey bees not readily given up.
Happy beekeeping.
Best regards.
Dr. Rodriguez
Virginia Beach, VA