> I have only seen European honey bees abscond a few times.
Me too - and only ever from Apidea mini-nucs when the queen was not removed quickly enough after starting egg laying. As soon as the little frames are full - perhaps a day! - she is ready to go.
Normal nucs and full sized hives usually swarm, not abscond, when seriously overcrowded.
Best wishes
Peter
52°14'44.44"N, 1°50'35"W
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