My son and I have one hive that we started from a nuc last April.  We live in
the deep south (Mississippi) of the USA.  It had been very warm in Feb. and the
beginning of Mar. and the hive was very strong.  I have a queen coming Apr. 4th
so I could make a split.  However, the bees decided not to wait and the hive
issued a HUGE swarm Mar. 6th.  It was spectacular.  My son spotted them high in
a neighbors pine tree and while I went inside to get an empty hive body to try
to tempt them down (There was no way I could get to that swarm without a fire
truck ladder) they flew away to parts unknown.  The following week we had a big
cold snap--20-30 degrees F. at night and sometimes no higher than 40 degrees in
the daytime.  We had a really nice, warm weekend and this past Sunday, I noticed
a lot of bees flying aroung the hive.  Then things calmed down.  Lo and behold,
yesterday, my son spotted a nice little swarm in the privet hedge and we went
and hived it.  The swarm was not really docile nor was it overly aggressive.
Some bees did try to sting me.  Could this swarm be the original one that
swarmed and survived out in the open, during extremely cold temps for 5 days?
Or did my hive swarm again so soon (I know that it would be rare for a hive the
swarm so close together)?  I have never seen bees issue from a hive in a swarm
and the swarm that I found was the first I have ever hived.  As far as I know,
there are no other beekeepers in my area (I am an urban, backyard beekeeper).
I have learned a lot from this experience and now know what an early spring
build-up looks like and will take steps to remove brood from the hive.  My goal
next year is to try to have no swarms at all (this is my ideal, it will
probably not be reality!!)  If anyone on the list has any advice or words or
wisdom to share, please let me hear from you.
 
Sincerely,
 
Florence and Mark Cooper
Jackson, Mississippi, USA