Walt Wright Articles

See what happens when I open my big mouth? Yesterday, I had a swarm, albeit a tiny one. Landed about 5' up in the wax myrtle that the last swarm occupied. Only this time a bird had built a nest in it, the next was intertwined with about ten branches and the swarm was intertwined in the nest. I'd have to cut about half the tree off, which I was not inclined to do. So I put a sheet on the ground, a medium box with 5 frames of honey & nectar on top, sprinkled some lemongrass oil on the top bars & entrance, then sprayed the cluster with sugar water and gave the entire tree a good shake. The bees fell all over the place and after a while looked very interested in the box, fanning nasanov and the like. I put the top on the box and left Mother Nature to her thing. Went back to check this morning, and they're gone. Wasn't expecting much so I'm not disappointed.
The only thing that gets me is I was just in my hives the day before yesterday and checked for swarm cells and found none. Is it possible the new queen hatched before the old queen exited?