Weird Swarm

[ManitobaBeekeeper]

Hi All, I'm a beginning beekeeper who started out with one hive of (package) bees this year. Unfortunately, they swarmed on the 28th of June (with the old queen). I went through the brood nest to look for capped swarm cells, but all I could find were tiny, just-started queen cups that hadn't been drawn out enough for them to even hang down. I searched all my beekeeping books for something like this, but they all said that swarms issue AFTER the cells had been capped. Can anyone help me figure out whats going on?

Thanks

Jeffrey

[bschmidtbauer]

Maybe they absconded? Just a thought.
were they battling any diseases, high mite levels, or poor living quarters?

[ManitobaBeekeeper]

What do you mean by "absconding"? They didn't all leave -- only about 3.5-4 deep frames of bees left.
I don't think they have mites. As I said, its my first hive and I just bought them this spring. They were hived on all-new equipment. Also I don't think they have any deseases, although I'm not an expert so I couldn't say for 100% sure.
As for living quarters, they had more than enough room. They almost filled the first deep box, and half filled the second. On top of the second I had an excluder, and another empty deep with foundation and 1 frame of honey & pollen as bait.

Has anyone seen this happen before or is it an entirely unique phenomenon?

[mistergil]

My opinion is that you had an unusual or aberrant event exactly of what nature is difficult to speculate without first hand knowledge and witnessing what conditions existed prior. Having been a beek for over 35 years and claiming to still be in the learning process, take me with a grain of salt.

I would recommend to any new beek to keep two colonies at least, preferably of the same race. This allows some comparisons to be made as to conditions, growth, temperament etc.

Remember that the standard beekeeping reference books (you know the ones) are produced by the same firms that sell equipment and therefore the information put forth may be a bit slanted to advantage the firm. Not saying it's true but best to keep it in mind.

Avoid excluder use whenever possible; learn to manipulate them without it. Using one may trigger behaviors that were marginalized to begin with and may act as a catalyst to undesirable events that may not otherwise have occurred .

Keep thinking the biologically smallest bee unit is the colony and that you are no different than any other animal herder, breeder, or caretaker. You've invested in the bee animal and it's welfare is the key to your obtaining any of this animal's products. You'll never totally figure them out so you have to look at the results as the true indicator of your performance with them. Regroup your efforts and you may still be able to pull this hive out and keep it surviving. Cut them back to one super and hold off on adding another until they are well established in it. A boardman feeder supplementing any current flow couldn't hurt and might provide a nice edge for them. If it's not too hot, minimize the entrance if the population is small. Of course you would check for a queen or eggs and brood conditions. Keeping bees is a lot intuitive as well, ie. a feeling they don't look right or their actions are all wrong; the smell is not right; too many dead brood laying about. Keep plugging away and in the end you'll have the experience and knowledge to guess what to do and probably be right.

[acb's]

Mistergil,

Excellent!

Most of that last paragraph of your reply should be framed and put on the wall of every beekeeper. Common sense is so rare anymore.

Arvin

[jgd]

Jeffrey,
I would like to know what type of equipment you have. Frames, ect.

thanks
jd

[Oldbee]

"I'm a beginning beekeeper who started out with one hive of [package] bees this year". Welcome to the "club"!! I went through that "phase" 3 years ago. Though my family had bees 40 years ago my first hive did not survive. It sounds like you were concerned about swarming and gave them TOO much space; and they swarmed. That seems odd. I admit that I have no experience with this; giving a colony of bees "too much space". "I would recommend to any new beek to keep two colonies at least"...mistergil. Most "new beeks" without ANY experience are a bit apprehensive [I assume] about taking care of a hive of honeybees. There is also the concern about space for equipment and of course, "financial" considerations; BUT, having 2 colonies is good advice if at all possible. Manitoba, Canada!!!!! I associate that part of North A. with long cold winters. Try to make contact with a beekeeper in your area for assistance. I hope your colony survives. Good luck!

[Oldbee]

ManitobaBeekeeper.......www.manitobabee.org/

[ManitobaBeekeeper]

Thank you oldbee for your comments and perspective, and I appreciate the warm wishes...

Um jgd, I used sturdy white pine full depth supers with Wooden GT+GB Jones frames (not sure what that means but anyhow, there you are!) fitted with white plastic wax-dipped foundation. I had painted exposed surfaces with 2 coats, 1 CT latex primer, then 1 latex finish. It had had plenty of time to cure before the bees were installed. The bees had reached the end of their 8th week after being installed, and (theoretically) maximum population by the time they swarmed. The weather had been mostly inclement with just a few sunny days now and then.

So there you have it. That's basically all I can think to tell you right now, although I'll be happy to answer more specific questions.

Thanks

[Michael Bush]

You forgot to get the bees to read the book... ;)