can this be the swarm queen?

1632 Views 7 Replies 6 Participants Last post by Mr.Beeman, Jun 24, 2014

coffeedad

Discussion Starter · Jun 20, 2014

I was at work wednesday and my daughter called me saying my bees were swarming. Believe it or not my wife and kids caught the swarm and placed them in an empty hive. My daughter said she even saw the queen on the blanket part of the swarm was on. I see no way this monster bee should be able to fly or get her abdomen in a cell?? of course she did fly to the swarm luster in my yard but look at the size of this bee. any thoughts?
dave

See less See more

Save

1 - 8 of 8 Posts

jhs494

· #2 · Jun 20, 2014

That actually looks like a drone to me but the quality of the picture isn't defined enough to say for sure.
Good luck with the new swarm. It looks like it was a decent size swarm.

Save

coffeedad

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jun 20, 2014

My teenage daughter took it with her phone, wish the picture was better. I opened the hive the next day and they had already drawn out a nice size piece of comb. I looked at hive this morning and there are many bees coming and going. looks like they are going to stay and that would mean the queen is there ?

Save

Michael Bush

· #4 · Jun 20, 2014

They won't stay without the queen.

Save

WBVC

· #5 · Jun 20, 2014

Good on them for working the swarm. My husband probably would not notice one and if he did he would walk on by

Save

coffeedad

Discussion Starter · #6 · Jun 20, 2014

I was surprised when they said they were going to try and catch it. My first seen swarm and i was at work. I was so jealous of them. I wish i could have been there.

Save

cjfoster72

· #7 · Jun 24, 2014

Last year was my first year as a beekeeper. I had a package swarm less than two months after installed...so don't believe anyone that tells you they won't swarm the first year. Anyway, I was at work when it swarmed, and my wife also caught them and hived them for me with no problem. Wish I could have seen it too, but proud of her for caring enough to try and catch it!

Save

Mr.Beeman

· #8 · Jun 24, 2014

Drone for sure. Rounded rear, large head, bulky, blimp like. Sounds like a good swarm catch. Kudos to the family.
Swarms can have multiple queens. Check on them again a week from now. You should see eggs.

Save

1 - 8 of 8 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.

can this be the swarm queen?

coffeedad

Attachments

jhs494

coffeedad

Michael Bush

WBVC

coffeedad

cjfoster72

Mr.Beeman

Top Contributors this Month