do they ever pratice a swarm

1019 Views 4 Replies 4 Participants Last post by Michael Bush, Apr 18, 2014

oldforte

Discussion Starter · Apr 18, 2014

In front of one colony there appeared to be a commencing swarm...thousands of bees circling around. Left the yard for a few minutes to gather a box to maybe lure the swarm...as I returned all looked normal...looked as though the swarm had already happened. Did not locate a swarm in the surrounding area. Upon inspection of the hive I found it still loaded with bees. The weather has been warm here with the exception of a few nights.

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Michael Bush

· #2 · Apr 18, 2014

If you didn't see them come back, I would assume they left. Hives often swarm and you can't see any difference in the population. But yes, sometimes they do come right back. Not often though.

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David LaFerney

· #3 · Apr 18, 2014

I observed the very same kind of practice swarm in my bee yard yesterday.

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GaryG74

· #4 · Apr 18, 2014

Saw the same thing this week with one of my hives. They started to cluster on a tree limb then thinned out. The next activity was back at the hive where they seemed to recluster on the front of the hive with a wad on the ground in front of the hive. Could it be that the queen didn't leave the hive and the swarm came back looking for her?

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Michael Bush

· #5 · Apr 18, 2014

>Could it be that the queen didn't leave the hive and the swarm came back looking for her?

Very likely. I'm not sure that they don't just change their mind though...

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