Top Bar Beekeeping in Arlington Heights

I did not see it, but they left June 26, 2019.  Could easily see only half the population, and at least one queen cell along the window. Wish I would have seen the swarm. Now, for the timing: Queen cells should have been just capped. Timeline: Swarm, day 1 +7-14 days for virgin queen to emerge +21 days (1 week to mate, 1 week to start laying, 1 week until first new brood is capped) 28-36 days after swarm new brood capped, 40-48 days after swarm new brood emerge.

Added four bars in the honey area.  As far as I can tell, brood does not exist past bar 13.  Some of the honey they've done is capped already! Best I can tell from pictures from last year/2017 is that they didn't get past around 18-19 bars.

They are still building, but my sense is they have slowed, so I assume they think they are good now with the brood space, and will be adding bars for honey as needed. I need to check the lake for the little yellow flowers blooming yet or not.  I don't think I've seen them yet, which is strange.

Saw some brood on bar 13, so added after that point.  Definitely 2-3 partial bars with at this point only nectar past 13. They are filling it up quickly, and I haven't even seen the yellow flowers blooming by the lake yet, even if they will?? The beetle buster has nothing in it as of yet. Bees are very calm to inspect.  Probably did not even need to smoke. Comparatively, a little more than a month in in 2017 the bees had 18 bars drawn, but it was past mid July.

Two more bars, total to 17. Added Craig's beetle buster trap filled with 1/2 vegetable oil, sat in diatomaceous earth under screen. I did see one beetle a few days ago.  Will be interesting to see if this gets any. I want to give them any advantage I can.