Gert Walter asks if there are external signs that a swarm has issued - I do
not know of any.  The bees in the swarm are of all ages and there will also
be a stock of mature and young bees still remaining in the hive to continue
their duties.
 
On the question of what happens when bad weather strikes, when a hive is in
swarm mode the bees start a succession of queen cells, maturing at different
times, to cover this possibility.  The impulse to issue as the swarm is
triggered usually the day before the first queen hatches and this queen duly
destroys all her unhatched siblings.  If the weather is unsuitable, I
believe the cell about to hatch is destroyed by the hive and swarming
postponed.  I would think in some cases the bad weather may nullify the
swarming impulse and this would become a supersedure.
 
Betty McAdam
HOG BAY APIARY
Penneshaw, Kangaroo Island
j.h. & e. mcadam<[log in to unmask]
http://kigateway.eastend.com.au/hogbay/hogbay1.htm