left behind?

[gerryj]

Can bees left behind after a cut out start a new colony, or do they just die? Getty

[robherc]

If there is 1 single egg left behind with them, then in theory, yes...they can rebuild from there (given the right circumstances). However, if you get the queen, and clean out every cell of comb, then the returning workers will simply stick around & build a little comb (probably even lay a few drone eggs over time) while biding their time until they all die off.

I often spray some herbal bee-quick type stuff around where I remove colonies...that way there's a lowered chance of new swarms deciding to build there right off, and it seems to help disperse the "stragglers" faster.

[gerryj]

Thanks Robherc

[JRG13]

put a box there with some frames, come back and get them later.

[gerryj]

Got'um gave them to a Beek Gerry