[FlowerPlanter]

Caught a swarm with at least 30 bees (that I could see) with pollen on their legs.

This swarm was there for at least a few hours before I showed up. Some of the returning bees had pollen and some in the cluster. As I watched several bees per minute returned with pollen.

There was no comb on the branch.

Has anyone seen this?

 

[bison]

Yes, a swarm I caught earlier this week was spread out on a wall and I saw a number of bees with pollen in their sacks.

 

[Michael Bush]

Proof once again that bees hauling pollen does not prove they have brood...

 

[FlowerPlanter]

Proof once again that bees hauling pollen does not prove they have brood...

Yes I totally agree -- "if they are bringing in pollen it does not mean they have brood or a queen".

But when a hive is not bringing pollen when all others are, IMO there always seems to be a problem. I've only seen it a few time with small hives 5 frames or less and they have all been hopelessly queenless.