I have had bees for 10 years or so, mostly one or 2 hives. I collected a swarm this year and it seemed really large. It was a super hot day and I had planned to wait until early evening to put them in the hive box but when I touched the outside of the cardboard swarm box, it was so hot to the touch, I thought I better put them in the hive box. I put them in an empty hive box and then they were so stirred up, I couldn't get any frames in. I put the inner cover on and the lid and figured I would take care of it in the morning. (I know - bad mistake!) By morning they had built a huge amount of comb hanging down from the inner cover. It was very elaborate and I thought I would just let them make their own hive and them build up from there. Now it has been 2 months and they have never ventured into the upper box with frames. (a few of them are hanging out up there usually, but the queen has never gone up there to lay eggs.) The last time I suited up to look in there, the inner cover hole was almost completely closed off with comb, so I made the opening a little bigger. Now I am wondering if I should just cut the comb free from the inner cover and put the upper box on hoping they will move into it. Or just leave them be.