[sweettooth]

hi, according to what i read a hive preparing for casting a swarm is sending about 10 days prior to take-off scouts out to search for appropriate sites. my question: does it happen that a new site is already picked while the swarm hasnt left, thusly: do swarms ever leave and go to and settle right away in the new site -- without the typical 3 or so days hanging somewhere close to the old hive? cheers, and happy beeing, peter

 

[G3farms]

Never seen one leave the parent hive and go directly to their new home. To me it seems they need to cluster first, this makes the initial break from the parent hive and they know the old queen is with them. I have seen a cluster only stay for a few minutes and then take off. Five minutes to five day, who really knows what they are thinking most of the time.

 

[sweettooth]

... I have seen a cluster only stay for a few minutes and then take off....

they sure were in a rush it seems; swarm-express. do you know where they went¿
i read that some scouts literally ´reserve´ a site they like, and sometimes for days ... with some sort of guards, even at nights (how, tho, can a few guards manage dropping temperatures at night to maintain body-heat¿¿).
the trimmed down old-queen: how far can she fly the moment of (or a few minutes later onwards, as you say) the swarm leaving the old hive?
gracias!

 

[BernhardHeuvel]

do swarms ever leave and go to and settle right away in the new site..

Yes, it happens. Have seen it twice times. One moved straight into an empty hive in my apiary. The other moved straight into an old hollow pear tree.

 

[sweettooth]

Yes, it happens....

servus bernhard, did both settle there permanently¿ dankeschón, peter

 

[BernhardHeuvel]

Yes, both settled permanently. Don't think it is too uncommon or rare.

 

[Michael Bush]

>hi, according to what i read a hive preparing for casting a swarm is sending about 10 days prior to take-off scouts out to search for appropriate sites. my question: does it happen that a new site is already picked while the swarm hasnt left, thusly: do swarms ever leave and go to and settle right away in the new site -- without the typical 3 or so days hanging somewhere close to the old hive? cheers, and happy beeing, peter

I would not say that 3 days is typical at all. I would say that is rare. Typical is they swarm out and hang on a tree at 10:00 am and at 2:00 pm they fly off into the wild blue yonder. But I've seen them just get settled and immediately take off for their new home. I have not seen them skip the biviouc completely.

 

[camero7]

I've only seen this happen once with a nuc in the late summer or fall, they take off and fly like an arrow right out of the apiary.