Hi Sid,
 
      <  A swarm will stay in the hive, if there is no honey or pollen, as
the queen will be retarded from laying the number of eggs owing to the poor
supply of nectar. That is no crowding, no swarm.
Thanks from :
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I do not grasp the meaning of your reply to my letter.  A news announcer
said yesterday that May has been the coldest for 300 years.  My bees have
ample stores of pollen and honey and the queens have been laying well, eight
combs of brood in a nine comb box of deep Dadants with plenty of bees.
Autumn and spring treatment has for the time being virtually eliminated
Varroa.  They have ample room with supers empty and ignored.  My normal
swarming tendency  is around 10%,  this year already 50% so I can only put
it down to the freak weather conditions.  In one way it has helped those who
raise queens from swarm cells.  Recent losses due to varroa  in the south of
England have ranged from 10% (15% for me) to 100%.  If one believed in
divine providence it would appear that the bees are anxious to bring
population levels back to normal.  Unfortunately swarms that get away are
doomed, starvation for many this month and for those that survive varroa
will get them eventually.                                        Sid P.
_________________________________________________________________
Sid Pullinger                    Email :  [log in to unmask]
36, Grange Rd                Compuserve:  [log in to unmask]
Alresford
Hants SO24 9HF
England