Hi all,
I was outside yesterday when i noticed a small swarm hanging in my lemon balm bush/tree. So i collected it in a nuc. That part all went fine.
Later i checked the nuc as quite a few bees had returned to the clustering spot.
I found the queen (dead) had been balled in the nuc, in fact the bees were still balled around her.
I have some questions.
Firstly seems strange that they are swarming this time of the year, they have plenty of room, but they are all incredibly strong hives. do we think this is normal? I have identified the hive they came from and been through all of my hives and there are no (more) queen cells.
Secondly why would they kill their queen, so soon after swarming, with no eggs they are surly destined to perish?
Half are now still in the box, about half again are hanging on the cluster spot and the rest have gone back to the mother hive.
what to do.... what to do?
Suggestions?