In a message dated 97-03-27 10:30:31 EST, [log in to unmask] (James
Russo) writes:
 
<< Three days ago, I caught a medium sized swarm.  I put it into a nuc box
and
 put it onto the stand with my other hives.  Yesterday, when I opened the
 box to put a hive top feeder on it, I was surprised to see the queen
 walking around on the top of the inner cover.  I then put her into the box.
  To my surprise, another queen walked out onto the top of the frames.  I
 did not think that 2 queens would stay in the same box!  I lifted a few
 frames to prove to myself that there were 2 queens, and sure enough there
 were.  Could the swarm have contained 2 queens?  Is this a common
 occurance? Will some of the colony  likely swarm out of the box with one of
 the queens?  I'm a second year beekeeper, so this was new to me. >>
 
   If both were mated queens, you have a merged swarm from two hives.  I have
seen three on one occasion.
 
   There are often a half dozen virgins, as well, sometimes more.
 
   Once they are in hives, they will sort things out.  The mated queen(s) may
lay for a while, but most likely will be soon replaced by one of the virgins.
 
    The bees prevent them from fighting when they swarm, but that doesn't
last.
 
[log in to unmask]    Dave Green,  PO Box 1200,  Hemingway,  SC
29554        (Dave & Jan's Pollination Service,  Pot o'Gold Honey Co.)
 
Practical Pollination Home Page            Dave & Janice Green
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