On 15 April, Kurt Bower asked  "Can you split anytime after you detect swarm
cells? Will this stop them, or
> will you simply have 2 swarms instead of 1?

Yes, but u must then WHOLLY separate the queen/swarm from the brood.  If u
leave any cell at all by mistake, they will still swarm.  If u leave eggs
they will raise more cells and swarm, sometimes before the first cell is
sealed.  But if they have no brood at all, only empty drawn combs and
foundation, then there is a check (as in natural swarming) and they will not
swarm again until they built out a new brood nest .  The delay may be only
say 3 to 4  weeks - but if you use a Long Deep hive, with the broodless
swarm at one end and the parent at the other, 3 weeks is long enough to
raise a new queen from one of the swarm cells and when u switch her to head
the whole of the re-united colony , that hive will not swarm again that
season.

Robin Dartington

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