What do bees do if there is no work?

[juzzerbee]

I am really having a difficult time knowing whether or not to add another super to my hives yet this year. I am fairly sure that there is 1 more flow on the way(Wisconsin). 1 hive has done well(harvested 69lbs already) and they are working on finishing 3 other supers currently. The other hive is slowly finishing their 2nd super. Since I only have 1 super of drawn comb left to place back on a hive I was going to put it on the slower hive and place a new super with plastic foundation on the stronger hive. My question is...... at this time in the year if I DID NOT place any more supers on the hives and the bees are close to filling and then capping what is there, what will they do after the work is all done and August has not even started? Will they swarm? Will they just hang out in the hive and enjoy some, "down time." I always thought we "beekeepers" were to keep the bees busy by adding supers when the previous one was 7/10 drawn. Does the amount of eggs being laid right now have an influence on what I should do? I want to keep the bees working(if they will) by I don't what them to get stressed. This is my 1st year and packaged bees from this past Spring(if that makes any difference. Thanks, juzzerbee

[WWW]

The way that I look at it is why not place the super on the hive and let the bees draw some of the comb out if they are inclined to do so, at least you would have a head start on the combs for next year and reduced the chance of swarming for this year......Bill