Two days ago a Park Ranger at the Battleship called about a swarm of bees. I went over, 10 miles, immediately but the swarm had moved into an unreachable 6" steel pipe drain. On the side of the ship not possible to mount a trap out. Stop.
Today another call another trip. This was an after swarm I suppose, about a quart of bees. I collected them in a box, brought them home and transferred them into a Nuc with some very old frames with wax and a bit of honey. The Queen flew out as my twobit queen clip fell apart. She landed within 10 feet and after waiting a bit I caught her with the repaired clip. I put her in the Nuc still in the clip with three workers. The bees followed her, I put a syrup feeder on top and things settled down. She is a very slim queen, maybe a virgin?
What to do now? When should I release her? Is this enough bees to start a nuc? Should I add a frame of brood with attached nurse bees?
Thanks for any thoughts as how to proceed.
Today another call another trip. This was an after swarm I suppose, about a quart of bees. I collected them in a box, brought them home and transferred them into a Nuc with some very old frames with wax and a bit of honey. The Queen flew out as my twobit queen clip fell apart. She landed within 10 feet and after waiting a bit I caught her with the repaired clip. I put her in the Nuc still in the clip with three workers. The bees followed her, I put a syrup feeder on top and things settled down. She is a very slim queen, maybe a virgin?
What to do now? When should I release her? Is this enough bees to start a nuc? Should I add a frame of brood with attached nurse bees?
Thanks for any thoughts as how to proceed.