Swarming, anyone?

[Kaat Vander Straeten]

Hi everyone,

well, this has been a chilly, wet April. Peas and beans aren't doing so well. Luckily my surviving hives had lots of extra honey to take them into this patch, but unluckily I haven't had a chance to go in to check on signs of swarming. About three weeks ago there was plenty of brood, but since then, it's a black box.

Anyone out there finding swarm cells?

Be well,

Kaat

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Kaat Vander Straeten, Ph.D.

"Look, Ma, no hands!"

Co-founder and Vice President of MassEnergize, a 501(c)3 |  Coordinator of Energize Wayland | Associate Member of the Wayland Energy and Climate Committee (an MCAN Chapter) | Co-founder of Transition Wayland | Member of the Transition US Creative Design Council | Certified Permaculture Designer (Sowing Solutions) | Graduate of E. Ingham's Life in the Soil classes (Environment Celebration) | Beekeeper, consultant, and founder of BEElieve Beekeepers

[Arthur Johnson]

I went through all my colonies yesterday and none of them are setting to swarm, even the strongest ones who are already in 2-3 boxes. At most I saw the usual swarm cups that my bees seem to love to make. Stores are getting low, and a few colonies seem like they have slowed down with brood rearing. There is/was a slight nectar flow so I'm hoping this weather improves soon so they can expand and enjoy!! 

Also, the weakest of my colonies are either barely holding on, or perishing in the last week/10-days. That is unusual for this time of spring-- end of March, yes... End of April, they've usually pulled through and are ramping up nicely. 

Fingers crossed for a better season than so far!! -A 

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[William Petri]

No evidence of swarm prep in my two colonies.  Slow buildup.    Pea growth also very slow.  Looks like at least 5 more days before things might warm up a bit.

—Bill 

[Nancy Vona]

Hi everyone, 

I haven't seen any swarm cells. Arthur mentioned that brood production has been slowing down--I have noticed that, too.  I installed a few packages in late March/early April, and while the queens have been laying, the number of frames of capped and uncapped brood seems to be staying the same (not increasing). 

I've planted lettuce, swiss chard and spinach a couple of weeks ago, and only now are they beginning to sprout.  

I'm looking forward to sunnier weather.  

Nancy

[Amber Tabone]

Hello everyone, 

I found a very small swarm on a tree in our backyard! It was an awkward angle on the trunk so I couldn't shake them in a box. I gathered who I could and put an empty super box with drawn comb next to them with lemon grass oil. Half of them gathered in the box, but they didn't survive the night. It was a cold one and there weren't many of them.

I'm new here, by the way. So nice to see this group active as we start the season. This is my second year. My single hive survived the winter! They were so strong and bursting at the seems that I just did a walk away split. I hope they can turn the eggs I put in the new hive into a queen. I'm seeing some drones in the mix to help the new queens. Perhaps the small swarm was some leaving in protest. I couldn't tell though because both hives still have a huge amount of bees.

It's nice to have the bees to keep busy these days. Hope you all are well and that we get to meet up some day. 😁

Amber Tabone

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[Mike Garvey]

>Anyone out there finding swarm cells?

 

I have four colonies that made it thru the winter and the strongest had three swarm cells a week ago.  I did a Snellgrove split on Saturday to head off the swarm.  The other three colonies had the usual array of queen cups.

 

Mike

Mike Garvey

Swampscott, MA

 

 

[Mike Garvey]

> The other three colonies had the usual array of queen cups.

 

An inspection today revealed a second hive with queen cells; it going to be an interesting season….

 

Mike

 

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[Kaat Vander Straeten]

Hi everyone,

I can report that the (possibly) first Wayland swarm of the season happened yesterday. 

Kaat

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[Arthur Johnson]

With one of your colonies? 

And general question for anyone who has noticed swarm cells or swarm prep, did you feed syrup this spring? 

Thx 

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[Kaat Vander Straeten]

A neighbor's. Those bees are strong and love swarming. They weren't fed syrup but extra honey from a dead out (a swarm off the same colony that we caught last year). 

Kaat

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[Jennifer Riley]

FYI, which you all may already know about. This is pretty terrifying!

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/murder-hornets-in-the-us-the-rush-to-stop-the-asian-giant-hornet/ar-BB13va3Q

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[Kaat Vander Straeten]

Ah, one of mine just swarmed too. So close yet not close enough. Anyone have access to a bucket truck?

Kaat

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[Kenneth Holtz]

We also just had a swarm. It was likely from our hive while we were inspecting it. But it could have been passing through at the same time, not entirely sure. 

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