Nothing. This is a mix of old and new equipment, but none of it was treated with anything this season. I've done everything I can think of shy of clipping queen wings, which I find distasteful. I just looked out and now there is another swarm in the same tree, this one much larger. I think I'm giving up beekeeping. At 01:40 PM 6/24/96 EDT, you wrote: > Maybe it is the hive box? How old is the hive? >Did you paint or stain it recently? If so, with what >and when? Did you treat the inside of the hive (boxes, >bottom board, inner cover, outer cover) or the frames >or foundation with anything? If so what? > > Sometimes the bees just don't like the >accomodations due to residual chemical odors. > > Jim Moore > [log in to unmask] > >