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This one is probably an after swarm. So i would give the virgin a couple weeks to get hardened,orientation, and mated and laying. Then check for eggs. Should be good to again. I would pop the top and make sure they have plenty of room. But other than that i would just wait till the new queen has had time before i would do an inspection.
Someone else should chime in and be able to give you more accurate timing. But in 2 weeks i think you should have eggs.
For future swarms i like to cut or smash all but 2 qcells and have them on the same frame. Some go with 1 but Im not that brave yet.
For future swarms i like to cut or smash all but 2 qcells and have them on the same frame. Some go with 1 but Im not that brave yet.
No they won't come back to the hive if you have more boxes you should set 1 deep with frames out and reduce the entrance to about 2 inches set it in the shade about head high if possible and they may go in that box. Or if you can rock them down into a new box you can get them. I always try to leave a extra box around to give any swarm a place to go sometimes they use it.
Wayne is correct that you have no idea which cell us a dud and which one will make the best queen. Tgats way i like to leave 2. But it has been my experience if you leave all the cells you have at least a couple afterswarms and i want to keep as many bees as i can.
Fyi thus works the same way when you split if you kettle them make their own queen. I split one hive three ways and left all the qcells and had 4 small swarms one time. But it is up to you whether to take them down to a couple qcells or leave them all. Just giving my experience.
I would check and make sure you still have bees in box and see that they have at least a couple frames in top box that are empty. If they are all full add a box. Other than that i would try not to disturb them too much.
Wayne is correct that you have no idea which cell us a dud and which one will make the best queen. Tgats way i like to leave 2. But it has been my experience if you leave all the cells you have at least a couple afterswarms and i want to keep as many bees as i can.
Fyi thus works the same way when you split if you kettle them make their own queen. I split one hive three ways and left all the qcells and had 4 small swarms one time. But it is up to you whether to take them down to a couple qcells or leave them all. Just giving my experience.
I would check and make sure you still have bees in box and see that they have at least a couple frames in top box that are empty. If they are all full add a box. Other than that i would try not to disturb them too much.
Give us an update when you have one.
Check out the chat room. Lots of good advice in there. The swarm could stay a minutes or for years
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