Thanks for your suggestions. I took the plunge yesterday, broke off the hanging comb and found the queen. Sad to dispatch her. Have managed to wire the broken comb to an empty frame but don't know if it will be accepted. Fingers crossed.
Thanks RAB,
Yes, I know I'm going to loose the comb it's just that I don't want to loose whatever stores or brood that might be in there if I can avoid it.
I have a small cast colony which I'd like to re-unite with its home colony. Unfortunately the hive they are in originally only had frames with foundation. They were determined to develop comb hanging between two adjacent frames despite my best efforts to persuade them otherwise and now I can't...
I'm buying my first colony from a neighbour who lives 2.5 miles away as the crow flies. We intend to transfer the brood into a new brood section and relocate. Has anyone any ideas/comments about problems associated with the proximity of my new location?