Hi Jane
Yes, it sounds very much like the Queen was not able to join the swarm,
hence their return and why you didn't see her.
Of course, it could just be that she was not quite slimmed down enough to
fly, and in that case they will likely swarm on the next good day if she
has reached her flying weight.
Alternatively, it could be that she is unable to fly due to some damage. If
that is the case, the likelihood is she will remain with the hive, and a
Princess will go with the swarm. This would be in about 8+ days time as it
is probable the first swarm attempt was just after the capping of the queen
cells. The first princess to hatch may take an extra day or two before she
flies and of course the weather needs to be suitable too.
Good luck getting them the next time!
Lynne
On Mon, 2 May 2022, 08:21 Jane denby, <dmarc-noreply-outsider@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
Thanks Lynne for your organisation and please yes to two swarms.
We had a strange day yesterday when one prime swarm attempted leaving
twice and twice went back home!
The first time they went into an empty bird house and obviously this was
too small so they hung tidily off it, at head height. Initially there were
two clumps but they quickly joined together. We were just gathering
ourselves to put them in a box, and then they went back to the alveary
within 10 minutes. Two hours later they came out, swarmed around, looked
at a very tall tree and then went back home. Today too chilly for them I
think.
It was fascinating to see them walk themselves back in; textbook fanning.
However we missed seeing the Queen go in.
Do you think she is a poor flyer or are they just too keen but did not get
permission to go?
On 1 May 2022, at 18:37, Jane and Patrick Denby <janedenby@xxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
------------------------------
*From:* oxnatbees-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <oxnatbees-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>On
Behalf OfStefanie Taeumer <stefanietaeumer@xxxxxxxxx>
*Sent:* 01 May 2022 18:36:54 (UTC+00:00) Dublin, Edinburgh, Lisbon, London
*To:* oxnatbees@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <oxnatbees@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
*Subject:* [oxnatbees] Re: Info request for next Swarms update
Hi everyone,
Yes, Liz (thanks again, Liz) gave me a lovely swarm today which I just
hived into my TBH. I walked them in, and it worked brilliantly. Liz did try
to get hold of people on the priority list first but without success. So I
was the lucky one! Liz did a fab job with the cardboard box, it took me
quite a while to decide where to best cut it open, lots of mesh etc., it
was a shame to destroy the box...
Stefanie
On Sun, May 1, 2022 at 4:36 PM Oxnatbees <oxnatbees@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I will recirculate the latest version of the Swarms Wanted list tomorrow.
As yesterday was a swarmy day, if you are on the list but now no longer
need a swarm, or not as many, please let me know so I can adjust the
update.
I do know that the following people had swarms recently:
Amy - 1 from Juli
Annie - 1 from Paul
Margaret - 1 from Paul
Zusana - 1 from own hive
Stephanie - 1 from Liz
Mariella - 1 via Linda (fingers crossed)
Any adjustments for anyone else on the list?
Thanks, Lynne
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