I am turning to this august group for thoughts on a strange incident one of my mentees (checked that word also) reported to me.

 

Here in Northern Illinois we are having a strangely late spring…  Snow on the ground at this moment.  Yesterday – temperature in the thirties with a rain/snow mix – my protégé went to his beeyard to find a swarm hanging on a branch just above his overwintered colony.  Cold bees were falling to the ground from the swarm.  On many counts, this does not make sense.  Little pollen, no nectar, precipitation, overcast, only a half dozen flying days so far this year, drones are not out yet.  He reports no queen cells (a nubee observation??).  He reports a cluster still in residence making it unlikely they are absconding.  The swarm is in a box in his garage awaiting more equipment.

 

In a normal year our swarm season starts the first of May.  In recent years I have seen more late (some really late) swarms, but this early swarm intrigues me.  Is the swarm season starting earlier, also?  Any thoughts?

 

Larry Krengel

Marengo, IL

 

 


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