1. Make splits early. I've had very few swarms since I started doing that religiously. 2. Put your name on the local beekeepers' swarm call list. I just did that a month or two ago and I am getting 2 - 3 calls a week. Caught 4 nice swarms in the last 3 weeks.
I caught a swarm a couple of weeks ago and they are building comb. Should i wait until they have a few frames completely drawn out before i should be seing eggs?
Depends on whether you have a mated queen or a virgin (afterswarm). Even if you have a mated queen, they need to build comb, bring in nectar and pollen before the queen can really start laying. I wouldn't start panicking yet. Give them a few weeks. Also keep in mind that if they are building natural comb, you may not even be able to see the eggs unless you use some magnification. I typically look for open brood.
1. Make splits early. I've had very few swarms since I started doing that religiously.
2. Put your name on the local beekeepers' swarm call list. I just did that a month or two ago and I am getting 2 - 3 calls a week. Caught 4 nice swarms in the last 3 weeks.
I’m in North Florida and caught three already
I caught a swarm a couple of weeks ago and they are building comb. Should i wait until they have a few frames completely drawn out before i should be seing eggs?
Depends on whether you have a mated queen or a virgin (afterswarm).
Even if you have a mated queen, they need to build comb, bring in nectar and pollen before the queen can really start laying.
I wouldn't start panicking yet. Give them a few weeks.
Also keep in mind that if they are building natural comb, you may not even be able to see the eggs unless you use some magnification. I typically look for open brood.
Do you know why wax moths infest swarm traps? Trick question.