Agitated bees buzzing around on ground in front of hive

[Vincent Fazzi]

I just moved a swarm from a trap I had up in a tree to a hive. I did it late in the afternoon the day I saw the swarm move in. I’d checked the trap daily. That was two days ago. This morning I see at least ten bees walking around on the ground in front of the hive. Buzzing loudly and obviously in some kind of distress. They won’t fly and if I put them on the hive entrance they just buzz and walk off the edge back to the ground. I put a jar of sugar water in as a top feeder which seemed to bring in a few ants. Not a lot but some. Any advice at all would be appreciated. Please help ! I lost a swarm in the rain a month ago. Those all died after moving in to the swarm box, and I don’t want to lose this one as well. What am I doing wrong?

[ceebs bailey]

Have you inspected?

[ceebs bailey]

Have you inspected?

[Vincent Fazzi]

Thanks for the reply. No, I’m not sure what I’d be inspecting for at this point. I moved the bees Tuesday evening from a swarm trap that was up in a tree. The next morning there were 10-15 bees on the ground buzzing loudly and wandering around apparently unable to fly. It was suggested on another beekeeping site to give them some sugar water as I moved them into their new home. I did that with a homemade top feeder jar thingy, but removed it yesterday after I saw the bees in distress. I was afraid I’d done it wrong. It hadn’t emptied and drowned them or anything. It was still full of nice clear 1:1 sugar water I’d made.

So when I inspect what might I look for that would cause bees wandering around buzzing loudly and unable to fly? Should I not worry about it? I saw some today as well but fewer and pretty normal coming and going activity around the door. Perhaps I shouldn’t worry…

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