BallaratBees · Victoria, AU · Swarms · Sep 3, 2026
Spring has flipped the switch in Victoria — swarm cells already, first splits of the season done
Southern hemisphere check-in. Three weeks ago my colonies were tight clusters ignoring me; yesterday's inspection found the two strongest wall-to-wall with bees, drones on the comb, and — surprise — charged swarm cells along the bottom bars of both. Wattle's been pumping and the willow is on, and they clearly know something I didn't.
So the season's first splits happened on the spot: took the old queen, two frames of brood and a frame of stores from each into nucs, left the swarm cells to requeen the parents. Nights are still single digits here so the nucs got reduced entrances and a feed.
Feels early — I don't usually split until late September. Any other southern folks seeing the same acceleration, or did I just panic at the first cup with jelly in it?
Wellington's the same — earliest build-up I've logged in six years, kowhai just starting and colonies already boiling. You didn't panic: charged cells with jelly means the decision was made, and splitting the old queen away is the textbook response. My one caution for early splits is drone maturity — cells started now give you virgins flying in 3-4 weeks, so check there'll be MATURE drones about by then, not just the first ones you're seeing on comb now.
MendozaMiel · Sep 3, 2026
Mendoza here, still a few weeks behind you — my colonies are building but no cells yet, first splits usually mid-September for me. Agree with KiwiBeek on the drone question, that is the whole gamble of early cells. Keep one extra cell protected in a nuc as insurance against a failed mating and you sleep better.
NalediBees · Sep 3, 2026
Mpumalanga is properly away now too — our spring runs earlier than yours and I've done four splits already. With scutellata I split at the first sign of congestion or they decide for me. One thing BallaratBees: single-digit nights with a small nuc, don't be shy with that feed, a cold snap can stall comb building right when the new queen needs laying space.
BallaratBees · Sep 4, 2026
Good point on drone maturity from both of you — there were plenty of capped drone cells alongside the walkers so the timeline should just about work, but I'll hold a spare cell in a queen castle as insurance like MendozaMiel says. Nucs took a litre of 1:1 overnight, so they're on board with the plan.