OK, here is a question for the more experienced of us in moving swarms. Another case of "bees will be bees."
I picked up a swarm yesterday -- an 8-pounder about 20' up in a white pine. I did a shake and dump into a bucket and then into the box. After a while the girls on the outside of the box were doing the
"queen's here" posture. Still, there were a few hundred that when shook, still continued to go back and cluster on the tree. I just couldn't convince them to come down even after climbing the tree and trying to brush them into a small bucket.
Can't understand the clustering if I had the queen in my box. Hived them this morning and all looked fine for a while. Came out after breakfast and there was crazy activity and there was heavy bearding on one of my hives where I missed a swarm last week. See:
http://FileLibrary.MYAASite.Com/Content/0/499/35107847.jpg Another hour later, and the top bar I loaded is all but empty and the lang is seriously humming and the beard is almost gone.
Could the swarm have simply decided to move next door?