Karen,   I've heard strange knocking noises from newly set up nucs and also from failing big hives.  I've also heard low-pitched sounds that might be described as "growls".  I use a stethoscope to listen to my hives on a regular basis, for fun.


Tom Seeley told me the knocking noise was probably due to some kind of beetle...he didn't mean just small hive beetles, but "other" ones.  However, sometimes the noises occur when I don't think beetles are about, such as early spring when few insects are active....and also I doubt that beetles are in brand-new, two-day-old packages.


I'm not sure if the noises I hear are like the growls you refer to, but they are noises that don't sound like "regular" hive sounds.


On nucs, the noise disappears within a couple of days after the queen is established.


Christina

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