In a message dated 5/10/00 5:53:08 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:

>  The open one bothers me.  Is there any thing I can
>  do to prevent a swarm?  Have they already swarmed? Who leaves under these
>  conditions, the vigin queen or my 1 year old carniolin?  How lonf before
>  they leave? Can I do my divide tonight and try and seperate the two queens?
>  Is it possible to try and find the new queen? HELP!

    Split 'em quick.  (You can recombine later, if you don't want increase.)
Don't look for queens; you won't find them all anyway. Just make sure each
split has a couple cells.  Handle frames with cells gently, and don't tip
them upside down, in case the developing queens may be damaged.

    If they haven't already gone up, they will very soon. If they have
already cast the prime swarm, they probably will also cast secondary swarms.
By splitting you salvage what you have left, before they get away too.

    Put a super on each split if you can. Then leave them alone for a couple
weeks, after which you can sort things out.


Dave
http://pollinator.com