Author Topic: Rookie Captures 1st Swarm (Read 2816 times)

Scott Derrick · « **on:** May 03, 2006, 10:52:04 pm »

OK Guys,

I need some info. First of all this is my first year beekeeping. I got a call locally today from a guy that had a swarm in a speaker that he had outside on his back porch. I went and picked up the speaker (He gave it to me) and took it the bee yard. I had a hard time finding the queen due to the dark as well as the amount of bees although to you guys it probably wouldn't be much.

Anyway I couldn't find her to save my life so what I did is take a healthy frame of brood from a mature hive an put into the hive I put the captured swarm into. I sprayed them with sugar water prior to putting them into the hive.

Here is a photo of the speaker body and the bees:
http://www.midstatebeekeepers.com/hive_photos/speaker_box.GIF

What I would like to know is what is the chance that they can raise a new queen if I didn't get the queen from the speaker body for some reason or I killed her in the process of transfer?

Any advice would be appreciated.

TwT · « **Reply #1 on:** May 04, 2006, 07:26:40 am »

Quote from: rsderrick

What I would like to know is what is the chance that they can raise a new queen if I didn't get the queen from the speaker body for some reason or I killed her in the process of transfer?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Hey Scott, you got you one ha, in order for them to raise a queen they would need some of their own comb from the speaker that has very young larva or eggs in the comb, you could have eggs or young larva on the frame you added, between 4-6 weeks your new queen should be going( I'm not going to say a certain number of days because my queens always take about 6 weeks before I see them rolling)... but I bet you got her, remember when she with a swarm she is slimmed down so she can fly or she could be a young queen, give her about a week and she will be laying and fattened up. good job bud-die!!!!

Michael Bush · « **Reply #2 on:** May 04, 2006, 07:56:08 am »

Odds are if there are eggs they will raise a new queen. No guarentees, of course. :) There's a good change you got the queen and simply don't know it. Did you do a cut out? How did you get them in a hive?

Scott Derrick · « **Reply #3 on:** May 04, 2006, 09:11:01 am »

Hi Guys,

I didn't put comb in the hive because there was no eggs or larva in any of the cells. I looked really good and didn't see anything. I would guess that the comb was only a week or two old. They did put some pollen and honey in a small part of the comb but I saw absolutely no eggs or brood. That is why I pulled a frame of brood from a healthy hive and placed it with the new swarm. I did this because I have learned that bees won't typically leave brood and that they can raise their own queen.

I sure hope I did the right thing. I hope they can raise their own queen if theirs is not there. Any other comments or suggestions?

Scott

Scott Derrick · « **Reply #4 on:** May 04, 2006, 11:57:06 am »

Hi Again,

I went down to the bee yard this morning and took a look around the hive. There arn't any bees hanging around the outside or entrance for right now. I feel sure they are on the inside. I took a look a the comb again to make sure I didn't miss any brood or eggs. I truly don't see anything at all but pollen and a small bit of honey. I need to go back into the hive today to add another frame to the body. I only put in nine frames only one of which was from the healthy hive with brood. They are also Pierco frames so I need to spray the ones I missed last night with sugar water.

I'll take a few photos and post them. Still would appreciate any feedback or reassurance about what I have done or the way I did it. I am always willing to take advice.

Scott

Scott Derrick · « **Reply #5 on:** May 04, 2006, 01:12:17 pm »

GOOD NEWS!!

I think I got her. I went back to the yard and opened up the new bees in hopes of finding the queen (Can you tell I was worried?). I of course pulled the only frame of borrowed brood and spotted her in an instant in a corner. Here is a photo of her. If you guys would please confirm my find I would appreciate it.

This file is 2.5 MB so it might take a few moments to load if you are on dial up.

http://www.midstatebeekeepers.com/hive_photos/queen.GIF

I look forward to your feedback.

Scott

Rabbitdog · « **Reply #6 on:** May 04, 2006, 01:27:57 pm »

Yep, you got her.
Good job, you DA MAN!

Understudy · « **Reply #7 on:** May 04, 2006, 01:41:26 pm »

That looks like a queen to me. Congradulations.

Sincerely,
Brendhan

TwT · « **Reply #8 on:** May 04, 2006, 03:16:15 pm »

I had a felling you got her, scott that lady never returned my call , you know the one you called and told me about, guest they took care of it their self.... Thanks again Bud!!!! oh and watch out ,them free bee's can get habit forming ;)

KONASDAD · « **Reply #9 on:** May 04, 2006, 05:37:17 pm »

love the photo of the queen. Very educational to a newbie like myself. thanx