Cone trap questions

[Ruben]

I have had this trap on now for 2 1/2 weeks and I would say that 95% of the activity is going in and out of my hive, 5% of the activity when watching for 30 minuites is 10 or 15 bees trying to get back into the house(with no success) and a bee or two coming out of then cone every 5 minuites. I opened up my hive on Saturday and the queen cells have hatched and the hive is loaded with bees. If I smack the side of the house only about five bees with house out. Are these bees that have just emerged from cells? At what point do I remove the cone?

[Todd Zeiner]

I'd say you could close it up now. Take your new bees home and tell them to get busy.

[Ruben]

What about removing the cone so the bees can rob out what thet had put in the house? They were in the wall for 4 weeks when I set up the cone and it took me a week to seal up all of thier entrances. Would there be enough in there to worry about?

[Todd Zeiner]

I wouldn't think they would have enough honey stored to worry about it. On the other hand if you have the time and energy, you could do that.

[iddee]

It takes 3 weeks for a worker to emerge. If there was enough honey and pollen in there to feed them, they are still emerging, and will be for at least another week. It is also possible the queen is still alive and well in the house. I just picked up a hive tonight where I had removed the hive too soon, 3 weeks after I removed it, the hive again begin to forage at a fairly good pace. I had to set another cone and box last week in may. I just removed it tonight. I would give them a week after I seen the last bee exit the cone. Then you can remove the cone and let them clean the house.

[Michael Bush]

If there's a dearth, some honey around the entrance of the old hive will usually set off robbing and the bees will rob it out. If there's a flow they may not be interested.