09/23/2026
One thing we don’t see as much in the fall as we do in the spring is swarms. Bees swarm to reproduce. One hive becomes two, with each swarm. But the queens reduce laying in the fall, so that doesn’t apply, really. Sometimes a bee hive will be destroyed for some reason or another and the surviving bees congregate (hopefully with their queen).
In any event, Charles noticed a small clump of bees (100 or so) on one of our unused hive stands. We offered them a nuc box (5 frame box) and they walked right in. No queen was seen. We planned to add this little handful to one of our existing hives.
Two days later, a second larger (500 or so) swarm landed on another unused hive stand. I got our swarm trap and moved it to the hive stand. I wasn’t suited, but swarm bees rarely sting, so I scooped up as many as I could and put them the trap. The remaining bees walked right in.
I have to think the two swarms are related in some way, but who knows for sure?
Tonight, after dark, we will move one box next to the other one, then tomorrow merge the two into one and try to locate a queen. In the absence of a queen, we will merge them into one of our existing hives. On the off chance there is a queen we will see if one of our beekeeping friends needs her.