Ian Watson writes:
 
>I was looking through a colony that I got about a week or so ago as a
>swarm.  So far only 4 frames have brood in them.  On one frame I saw at
>least 4 Queen cells.  All but one were at or near the bottom of the frame,
>and the other was half way up.  So they should be considered Swarm Cells;
>but why would a very recent swarm, swarm again, especially when there is a
>lot of room in the colony and 6 frames not even drawn out yet?
>
>Any thoughts?
>
Did you see the queen?  If the hive from which the swarm issued had not
swarmed for a year or so due to climate or food supply considerations, the
queen may well be running out of steam.  The hive would supersede
immediately they pick up a weakness in the queen's laying pattern.
Alternatively, the queen may have died accidentally, either when you handled
the hive or through other causes so the hive has selected freshly hatched
larvae to breed a replacement.
 
Betty McAdam>
HOG BAY APIARY
Penneshaw, Kangaroo Island
j.h. & e. mcadam<[log in to unmask]
http://kigateway.eastend.com.au/hogbay/hogbay1.htm