Tualatin Valley Beekeepers Association

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Swam survival

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30 Jul 2020 11:05 AM

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Message # 9135538

Deleted user

May 23 I gathered a small swarm from my community garden and installed it in a nuc box. I checked on it two weeks later spotting the queen laying, larva and bees bring in pollen.

The activity has not increased much and may well have deminished in size. Checking yesterday seems population isn't large, queen still laying, no honey stores, not even one full frame of brood. No indication of AFB or EFB.

I have not fed them thinking wild bees would be good foragers. Hate to loose them but not sure they can survive in wooden nuc box this winter. Any suggestion to this newbee bee keeper

I can text phots taken yesterday to anyone who need to see them but can't seem to attach the ones i emailed from my phone to myself.

Sure would love some help!

Thank you!

Kathleen Moore

Last modified: 30 Jul 2020 11:34 AM | Deleted user

Moved from General Bee Topics: 8 Feb 2021 5:04 PM

2 Aug 2020 12:05 PM

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Reply # 9140188 on 9135538

Anonymous member

Kathleen,

The colony should have grown since being captured. Colony survival depends upon both internal and external factors. Internal factors can be the worker population size, genetics and disease. External factors can be weather, availability of nectar/pollen and predators (including robbing by other colonies). These factors can overlap and compound to suppress colony growth, and may eventually lead to collapse. Sometimes all a small colony needs is a boost in the form of a pollen supplement patty, feeding with sugar syrup and the addition of a frame of young bees and brood. If you can provide these, it may help. Otherwise, waiting much longer it will be too late for this colony to build enough to survive winter.