Hi Drew, 

Great swarm (and the "I caught a fish... er swarm... picture)!

With blackberries coming on and forecasted highs in the 90F next week, I would recommend getting them into a full-sized box by the weekend. Check for a queen and brood when you transfer. If they have some nectar stored up, you may not need to continue to feed as I am expecting a wicked Western Oregon nectar flow starting next week. If the forecast doesn't hold, and it gets cold and dreary, then keep the syrup going. 

The only thing you might consider doing is applying a Varroa mite treatment before the colony broods up (although, I expect that window is quickly passing).

Congrats on the nice new colony!



Dear Drew,

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YOUR QUESTION #0022342:

Nuc box question

I captured a swarm on 5/22 and placed them in a Nuc box with five frames of old comb. How long can I keep them in there before I have to put them in a ten frame box? How long should I wait to open them up to check for the Queen and brood? I fed them a quart of 50/50 sugar water is that enough or should I give them more? Thanks for your help!

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Dusting is mildly effective and works best by confining the bees to a small space. I would recommend a more standard chemical treatment for varroa, such as an oxalic acid drizzle in sugar syrup or one of the strip treatments. I would not recommend formic acid treatments on a colony that is just brooding up (in addition, it is simply too hot to be using fumigants in colonies at present).