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I'll just 'bump' this as it's related ...
As mentioned, May 2 I caught a swarm in Trap #3, just sitting outside my garage. Before they arrived, I was seeing increasing numbers of scout bees flying around the hive, up to dozens, then no bees, then the swarm arrived.
Swarm Trap #2 had bees flying around it at the same time, not quite the same numbers. This trap has now had bees visiting it in various numbers, for 72 Hours. Every day there have been bees hanging around. We've had cool nights, a thunderstorm blew through yesterday afternoon and rain during the night last night.
Does wing position have any meaning? Here's what I've observed:
Is this the 20% that lost the vote when the rest of the hive went to Trap #3?
Is this potentially another hive thinking about swarming?
Are these 'lost' scouts that have just remained at the hive?
I've read that swarming tends to take place around 1-2P? How do temperatures affect swarming? I've tried to Google this and tend to get information related to thermoregulation in the hive.
As a side note, all of my traps are new wood ware, essentially bare frames, bees wax dribbled on starter tabs and LGO slow release vials.
Thanks for any thoughts about the girls.
John
As mentioned, May 2 I caught a swarm in Trap #3, just sitting outside my garage. Before they arrived, I was seeing increasing numbers of scout bees flying around the hive, up to dozens, then no bees, then the swarm arrived.
Swarm Trap #2 had bees flying around it at the same time, not quite the same numbers. This trap has now had bees visiting it in various numbers, for 72 Hours. Every day there have been bees hanging around. We've had cool nights, a thunderstorm blew through yesterday afternoon and rain during the night last night.
Does wing position have any meaning? Here's what I've observed:
- Tend to hold wings at approximately a 45 degree angle, not fanning, not holding abdomens up
- Some crawling around the inside, in an out and the front
- Some flying around the outside of the box
- Some coming and going
- Some touching of antennas
- Some rubbing hind legs on the rearmost portion of their abdomen


Is this the 20% that lost the vote when the rest of the hive went to Trap #3?
Is this potentially another hive thinking about swarming?
Are these 'lost' scouts that have just remained at the hive?
I've read that swarming tends to take place around 1-2P? How do temperatures affect swarming? I've tried to Google this and tend to get information related to thermoregulation in the hive.
As a side note, all of my traps are new wood ware, essentially bare frames, bees wax dribbled on starter tabs and LGO slow release vials.
Thanks for any thoughts about the girls.
John