Wallace, agreed. Last year, 2017, first swarm in Ar was Febtuary 23, very unusual. Not in my Apirary, just south of me. Usually in Ar, swarms peak in April and May, but as Wallace stated; when the queen has no place to lay...
Ace, I did not think you had serious issues with beetles, not in your area of the US. Is this beetle issue new with your hives. Are you talking about FL, then I understand.
Blessings