Swarm question

[beegardenbirder]

This morning there is a swarm in the top of a tree about 20 ft. from my hive. The hive has been very full the last while so, I figured they had swarmed... My question is, should I be able to see a difference in how full the hive is?  It is a TBH with a side window, and when I look in the window it seems to be just as full as it was yesterday.  Could this be just a wild swarm, should I be able to tell that what's in the hive is smaller? I'm new to bees and have never seen a swarm before.

[bee-nuts]

you can not always see there is a popultion decrease easily.  If they swarmed you should have swarm cells all over though.  There should also be a reduced amount of open brood then normal.  If they swarmed they have to be raising a new queen/queens.  No swarm cells, no swarm.  Capped swarm cells equal about to swarm or already have.

Go do an inspection and let us know what you find.

And first catch the swarm.  20 ft is not always to hight to catch, you just need to use your head and think about it.  If you can come up with a safe way to shake it get er done.  Otherwise try to lure it with a swarm trap and lure!

[AllenF]

A swarm can take between 40 to 60% of the bees from a hive.

[BoBn]

Be read for some cast swarms.  The hive may sent out more swarms.