Subject: | |
From: | |
Reply To: | |
Date: | Thu, 27 Mar 1997 22:37:30 -0500 |
Content-Type: | text/plain |
Parts/Attachments: |
|
|
In a message dated 97-03-27 10:30:31 EST, [log in to unmask] (James
Russo) writes:
<< Three days ago, I caught a medium sized swarm. I put it into a nuc box
and
put it onto the stand with my other hives. Yesterday, when I opened the
box to put a hive top feeder on it, I was surprised to see the queen
walking around on the top of the inner cover. I then put her into the box.
To my surprise, another queen walked out onto the top of the frames. I
did not think that 2 queens would stay in the same box! I lifted a few
frames to prove to myself that there were 2 queens, and sure enough there
were. Could the swarm have contained 2 queens? Is this a common
occurance? Will some of the colony likely swarm out of the box with one of
the queens? I'm a second year beekeeper, so this was new to me. >>
If both were mated queens, you have a merged swarm from two hives. I have
seen three on one occasion.
There are often a half dozen virgins, as well, sometimes more.
Once they are in hives, they will sort things out. The mated queen(s) may
lay for a while, but most likely will be soon replaced by one of the virgins.
The bees prevent them from fighting when they swarm, but that doesn't
last.
[log in to unmask] Dave Green, PO Box 1200, Hemingway, SC
29554 (Dave & Jan's Pollination Service, Pot o'Gold Honey Co.)
Practical Pollination Home Page Dave & Janice Green
http://users.aol.com/pollinator/polpage1.html
|
|
|