A few weeks ago a was performing some fall hive manipulations.(I run all
mediums and was reversing the bottoms as well as checking for queens and
feeding if necessary).
While I was working a group of 8 hives I noticed what seemed to be
swarming bees in the immediate area. I believe that this swarm was to have
originated from my hives, but I have no proof as I mark my queens and this
one was not. The swarm settled directly above my hives on the branch of a
pine tree. I had no swarms that I am aware of to settle in these pines
during the earlier months.
Yesterday I noticed one of these hives was queenless and the last capped
bees were emerging which would correspond with the timing of the swarm.
There was no apparent attemt to requeen themselves (No visible signs of
queen cells)
The swarm was the size of a grapefruit and the queen was fertile as she
was laying eggs within a day. The swarms timing was odd in that they
waited until 5:00pm on a sunny day. Temperatures were in the 70's.

My question to the list is:
Can one cause bees to swarm within minutes of manipulating them and if so
why wouldnt all the bees leave? If a colony absconds, dont all the bees
leave?
Would they not all leave because there was still eggs and brood present?

Thanks,

Kurt Bower
Julian, NC USA

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