a swarm and a split

[ratcatcher]

I've been a bad bee keeper of late, a few deaths in the family has meant the bees were just left to fend for them selves, I knew I should have done an inspection, but not enough hours in the day and all that, and of course, the day I was going to inspect, they swarmed a few hours earlier

http://youtu.be/eBSK9SYHrhU

so, a week later (weekend gone) I did a check, would never in a million years expect what I found

http://youtu.be/t_xzwRSBHb4

 

[Arfermo]

If the queen is very small she may go upstairs again. Might have been best to check her first and possibly squish as there were emergency QCs by the look of it that might have produced a Q that couldn't get through QE? Also noticed 11 frames in BB but only 10 in super.

 

[pargyle]

As always Steve.... great quality video - missed them whilst you've been away.

 

[ratcatcher]

If the queen is very small she may go upstairs again. Might have been best to check her first and possibly squish as there were emergency QCs by the look of it that might have produced a Q that couldn't get through QE? Also noticed 11 frames in BB but only 10 in super.

doubtful, she's my old queen, Im assuming she got into the super when it was placed on the ground at time of my splitting frames, and not through QE as you think

as for difference in frame amounts, does it matter to the bee's ???

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

as for difference in frame amounts, does it matter to the bee's ???

No - unless you are on brood and a half

 

[ratcatcher]

ok, update, checked the hive with my old queen in, I had removed all queen cells on the day I found her, but had left a couple in the super, as they were above the QE, so on inspecting yesterday, found two open QC in the brood box, and I stupidly, removed them, then found I couldn't find my old queen, so she's either swarmed or been killed, now, should I remove the QE, in the hope that theres a virgin queen up top in the super or just panic