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I have a poly nuc box that I use for carting brood frames to and from my hives which are in a field in the next village. On Friday I swapped out some old dirty combs for new ones and brought the old ones, which had some nectar and pollen in them, back in the nuc box. It was all closed up and I left it in the garden on top of some unused supers.
It was windy Friday night and Saturday, and I'd forgotten to weigh down the poly lid with a brick. Saturday afternoon when I went into the garden, the lid had blown off and there were lots of bees in and around the box. Well, I didn't mind them cleaning out the nectar for me as I was going to scrape out the comb anyway and someone else's hives were getting some easy honey.
I replaced the lid securely, and opened the entrance so bees inside could get out.
Sunday, 2.30 in the afternoon, suddenly the sky was full of bees, and in 15 minutes, they were all inside the box. Evidently the bees I thought were robbing were in actual fact a heck of a lot of scouts searching out a new home. They certainly decided fast, usually I see scouts for a week or two before they decide whether or not to move in.
Next time I want to catch some bees, I shall know to leave comb with nectar and pollen inside the box, and maybe the lid off too!
It was windy Friday night and Saturday, and I'd forgotten to weigh down the poly lid with a brick. Saturday afternoon when I went into the garden, the lid had blown off and there were lots of bees in and around the box. Well, I didn't mind them cleaning out the nectar for me as I was going to scrape out the comb anyway and someone else's hives were getting some easy honey.
I replaced the lid securely, and opened the entrance so bees inside could get out.
Sunday, 2.30 in the afternoon, suddenly the sky was full of bees, and in 15 minutes, they were all inside the box. Evidently the bees I thought were robbing were in actual fact a heck of a lot of scouts searching out a new home. They certainly decided fast, usually I see scouts for a week or two before they decide whether or not to move in.
Next time I want to catch some bees, I shall know to leave comb with nectar and pollen inside the box, and maybe the lid off too!
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