I noticed a small swarm in a tree near my apiary.  As I was preparing to
capture the swarm, the bees started to slowly leave the swarm.  They
headed to a hive in the apiary, covering the front of the hive.  After much
buzzing and confusion, they eventually went into the hive.
 
The hive they entered was a queenless split I had made a couple weeks
ago from a hive that was preparing to swarm.  (I split the original hive 3
ways, making sure each split had a frame with queen cells.)  I assume
one of the queen cells hatched and the swarm originated from this hive,
but I can't figure out why it returned.  Is it possible that the queen didn't
leave the hive?  Is this behavior common?
 
                                             Steve Phillips
                                              Perry, KS
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