2014 Hive 7 (Swarm caught 6/17/14)

Hive status:  New swarm caught 2014
Hive origin: Swarm from Linda Wood's smaller hive
Queen type: 2013 Italian (package from QRC)

Significant events/observations:
This hive was set as a 10 frame deep used as a swarm trap. I covered the screen bottom board with plastic, had 10 frames of drawn comb, and placed a piece of gauze containing 5 drops of lemongrass essential oil inside a plastic baggie with pinholes poked through to slowly allow the scent to be released. I also had an entrance reducer in as I have read swarms like small entrances. After two ant infestations, the trap caught a swarm on June 17.  This is the email that Linda sent:

We are having a swarm!!! Right now!!!  They are going into the swarm trap !!! which happens to be sitting on our back porch awaiting me to find another place to put it after the ant invasion.

I picked the hive up late that night, taping entrances and securing the top outer cover to the hive and bottom board with a ratchet strap. I placed the hive in the apiary, removed the tape, and left them alone.

6/22/14: Spotted eggs, no larvae. So the old queen resumed laying less than 3 days before the inspection. I suspected she would need a few days to fatten up after her diet and subsequent flight. There were plenty of bees in the single deep and some were out foraging when I inspected. I added an upper deep with 5 frames of undrawn foundation to see if they will draw them out quickly. Also removed the entrance reducer. Good start, and very pleased this worked. I also placed a nuc swarm trap at Linda's in case there are any afterswarms which would have a new queen.

7/14/15:  Spotted eggs.  Swarm not drawing out much comb in the upper deep.  I removed burr comb between the two deeps.  Top deep is 3/4 empty.  Considering killing the old queen, then combining with Hive 6 (new nuc 2014).

8/2/14: Spotted queen and eggs.  This hive has started drawing out partial frames, but most bees were in the upper deep, not filling both.  Split hive to combine upper deep with Hive 6 which needed room.  Moved queen on one frame to lower deep so I know she’s still in Hive 7.

8/15/14: Eggs and larvae on one frame.  Ok on space, low on food.