We have had our share of rain in the last several weeks. After 5 straight days of rain, last Tuesday, 5/2/17, was our first sunny day in the low 60's. The only colony I had that was a peak performing condition was a swarm that I had caught in a trap May of 2016. This same colony decided to swarm last Tuesday. I was in the backyard and happened witnessed the colony land in the top of a 40-50 ft. tree. I had a swarm trap set up, but quickly put together another just in case. The only way for me to catch this swarm was to lay a sheet down with a brood box and shoot the limb. I don't have a rifle and the city wouldn't think kindly of this activity.
My husband and I waited and watched. The temps dropped down into the 40s on Tuesday night. They clustered. The rain began again on Tuesday evening and into Wednesday. They clustered even tighter. Before going to work on Thursday, I checked them again and they were hanging tight to the limb. Yesterday's weather, Thursday, was in the low 60s with sunshine. I knew they would make their move for sure. Last night my husband met me on the driveway to tell me the little stinkers had moved into the 2nd swarm trap. Today I will check to make sure they are starting to bring in pollen. Resilient little things. I find it amazing that they survived chilly, rainy conditions in the open.
April was a horrible month for me personally. I haven't been able to check on my colonies as I should. No, I didn't know they were building queen cells in there. The particular colony that swarmed happened to be the meanest bees I have ever worked. I decided not to inspect them and just put honey supers on. They were on super #3 when they swarmed. Supers 1 and 2 were filled.
