>Just yesterday, I asked for advice on splitting my colony that had several
>queen cells. Well, I got some great advice from you all, was watching my new
>little nuc improve with workers heading to and fro and my original colony
>still looking prosperous. This afternoon., the original colony took to the
>skies. Yep, I have ANOTHER swarm high in a fir tree.Meanwhile, the outside
>of their hive box is coated with bees with their rears in the air and
>fanning furiously. What am I doing wrong? Last season I lost my first colony
>to a late season swarm. I started with a fresh nuc this spring that was
>treated for mites before I picked it up. I've done everything I have read,
>heard and/or can think of to keep these gals contented, and yet I've got
>another buzzing mob in my tree. I'm about ready to can this here hobby and
>admire those who find success at it. Help!
>
Hi Marcia;
 
        First your confusion has been brought about by some people only
perceiving your question, and responding with their own ideology.
 
        Any new queen that swarms is either unsettled in her surrondings, or
there is some environmental influence that is creating the swarm to relocate.
 
        This is mainly from over crowding, or with all this unnecessary talk
of bee parasites, there is too much chemical protection from these
parasites, that are most surely, poor decision management.(It is a poor
beekeeper that blames his/her bees). As the only way to prove mite
infestation, is to see them under the microscope.
 
        Your swarming points out that all new queens have to be clipped by
yourself or your queen supplier, otherwise the same will happen again.
 
        I suspect that your bee boxes have been treated in an attempt to
over come the net discussion of parasite infestitation, or the paint
material fumes are disturbing your bees, so the hive workers are influencing
the queen to suppersed.
 
        For more information see our Beekeeping web page at the URL;
 
                http://www.eastend.com.au/~goble/KiBees
 
        Regards from Dr Brian E Goble PhD
Thanks from :
                        [log in to unmask]
                 http://www.eastend.com.au/~goble
            [log in to unmask] ( David Goble )
           American Beach Kangaroo Island South Australia