Hanging Swarms and Queens

[KONASDAD]

I removed six hanging swarms this pastweek. I only saw one queen, when I tried to pick her up i missed and she flew back into tree. I now have these swarms in boxes w/ undrawn frames(all i have left). They are all flying like crazy, making wax, bringing in pollen, storing nectar etc.  Still haven't seen queens or eggs, brood etc. Will they make a "home" if queen is missing? Am I to presume they are queenright if they are doing all of this work? When should I expect to see eggs under these circumstances?

[MrILoveTheAnts]

You should see eggs as soon as the cells are half built up. I don't know if that applies to laying workers though which would likely arise in the event of a queen-less swarm.

[desmondmegan]

they are probably after swarms. i had the same thing happen cough two swarms i could not find the queen but started to see eggs in about 2 weeks. i was able to find the queen then.

[KONASDAD]

So, some swarms have virgin queens? or all swarms have mated queens? Also, two of my swarms absconded this AM as a foloow up.

[Understudy]

Swarms should lay in about two weeks if there is comb less if all is ideal. Swarms abscond on a regular basis. Thus the reason for queen includers. That is also why you leave them on for two weeks.

Virgin queens in a swarm are a gamble (what in beekeeping isn't?). If you lock in a virgin queen it's doomed. If you let her go on a mating flight she may not survive.
If you don't lock her in so she can go on a mating flight they may abscond.

It is nice to see you have been busy.

Sincerely,
Brendhan

[KONASDAD]

Swarms should lay in about two weeks if there is comb less if all is ideal. Swarms abscond on a regular basis. Thus the reason for queen includers. That is also why you leave them on for two weeks.

Virgin queens in a swarm are a gamble (what in beekeeping isn't?). If you lock in a virgin queen it's doomed. If you let her go on a mating flight she may not survive.
If you don't lock her in so she can go on a mating flight they may abscond.

It is nice to see you have been busy.

Sincerely,
Brendhan

I didn't use excluders as these were cantalope size swarms and I hived them in four frames nuc w/ screens for vetilation and a finger sized hole for entrance. The best way i noticed is if it rains for a day after inserting into nuc. the rain makes the new home look good i guess.