In message <[log in to unmask]>, Automatic digest
processor <[log in to unmask]> writes
><<<<Have you seen them actually do this?  The swarm analogy doesn't make
>sense to
>me in this case because here we have an intact colony with brood.  In my
>experience with bees (although I admit no experience with skeps), bees will
>not
>abandon brood.  Why would they do that in this set up?>>>>>

Sorry to be so late replying, but have been ill for a few days, and came
back still groggy and removed most of my mail.
 To answer. Yes! not with skeps, but I once got bees out of a wooden
hive that was in a terrible state by inverting it and drumming on the
side to drive them into a clean hive placed above.
Beats should be slow and rhythmic, not a fast drumroll.
Why it works  I don't know, and the fact that they leave the brood may
be something to do with the belief (how true I don't know) that a queen
wont lay in cells that are upside down.
--
Tom Speight