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Author Topic: They did NOT swarm  (Read 758 times)

Offline 2Sox

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They did NOT swarm
« on: May 25, 2023, 05:08:50 pm »
Not question here; just an observation.  But comments welcome.

I was lucky this year beacause I caught them in time. I "opened the brood" nests in all the colonies - The technique that Michael Bush describes in detail in his online book -  and had no swarm issue. Then I went in a checkerboarded the honey supers. Then an interesting thing happened that I hadn?t ever seen before - and it was easier to see because I have all my colonies in my back yard on concrete.  They were dumping out thousands of drones all over the ground. Just didn?t need them anymore, I guess.

I also pulled out many - not all - of the drone combs from all the colonies. Wasn?t sure if this helped anything though.

*The post has been modified to give much deserved credit to Michael Bush.
« Last Edit: May 25, 2023, 08:06:09 pm by 2Sox »
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Offline The15thMember

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Re: They did NOT swarm
« Reply #1 on: May 25, 2023, 07:02:52 pm »
I have had several colonies dump their drones this spring at different times.  Sometimes it's adults, sometimes it's pulled pupae, sometimes both.  I'm not sure if my swarming or non-swarming colonies were the ones who were doing it. 
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Online Ben Framed

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Re: They did NOT swarm
« Reply #2 on: May 30, 2023, 12:46:42 am »
Did y'all happen to check these drone larva or pupa for signs of mites?

Phillip
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Offline The15thMember

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Re: They did NOT swarm
« Reply #3 on: May 30, 2023, 02:12:23 pm »
Quote from: Ben Framed on May 30, 2023, 12:46:42 am
Did y'all happen to check these drone larva or pupa for signs of mites?

Phillip
Not specifically, although I did look the one pile over just to be sure everything seemed normal with the drones and it did.  I didn't see any mites, deformed wings, etc., although all I did was a cursory visual inspection.   
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Online Ben Framed

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Re: They did NOT swarm
« Reply #4 on: May 31, 2023, 06:20:54 pm »
Quote
The15thMember
sometimes it's pulled pupae

The pulled pupae would be my interest. Does anyone here know if Varro Destructor will leave pulled pupae once that pupae has been pulled?

Phillip
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2 Chronicles 7:14
14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Offline Michael Bush

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Re: They did NOT swarm
« Reply #5 on: June 01, 2023, 07:05:02 am »
The number of drones tolerated is directly proportional to the resources coming in.  When nothing is coming in, they eject drones.  You probably just finished your flow and hit a dearth.
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