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Have you tried any other way? All of my hives have clearer boards atop with the porter escape holes covered with slate (best Welsh JBM!). There's a clue in the construction really. Why do you think the holes are almost exactly the dimension of a Porter bee escape? Ahhhhh..... (Or should that...

Of course. Most beekeepers will want to use a clearer board at some point. So that is what is included in the package! I've had that déjà vu before...

A crown board is a solid closed entity. A clearer board has two holes for horrid Porter bee escapes. Leave Porters in the holes in a clearer board and bees will glue them up. Go figure... I've had that déjà vu before...

Because calm bees make for better inspections. 'Runners' are not focussed on the comb, where we would like them to work. They appear to be without purpose, migrating outwards, over and off the comb, getting all over fingers where there is greater danger of crushing. I've had that déjà vu...

I prefer my bees on the face of comb or out foraging. Others may have a tendency to run around the hive - not a nice trait! I've had that déjà vu before...

Slow but purposeful movement is the trick. A contented colony of bees is unlikely to wreak revenge unless threatened. You are much less likely to squash bees without sausage fingers. Now, open your eyes and enjoy working your bees on another level! I've had that déjà vu before...

Laying workers will produce a sporadic laying pattern with eggs on the sides of cells as they may not be able to reach the base. Newly mated queens' eggs will be at the base of cells. She will get the hang of it. I've had that déjà vu before...

So in the case of the QE and in the knowledge that the OP is concerned about VQ's in the hive, a QE would appear to be something of a waste of effort. I've had that déjà vu before...

Virgin queens can get through an excluder. It would only increase the sting count. Never mark a newly-emerged queen - bees prefer their new queens in pristine condition, in many ways. I've had that déjà vu before...

And they're angry bees already? Good luck. I've had that déjà vu before...

One step at a time! Yes, move them. Or risk more upset. Bees in the garden needs careful planning and experience.. Are they Q-? You need to be sure or you may waste your new queen as she will surely be killed.. Queen introduction needs care - bees ready to accept a queen, not nasty seasoned bees...

Guide to Bees and Honey - Ted Hooper I've had that déjà vu before...

Careful with the strength of solution then. Recommended contact time at APHA (defra) published dilution of 6:1 is 20 minutes. I've had that déjà vu before...

Why would you want to do that? You have no brood and you want to deplete your colony of young bees. That's beyond daft. I've had that déjà vu before...

JBG- Not sure I'm following! You said earlier that you inspected 10 days ago and found sealed QC. Is this the same one or have I misunderstood? Maybe think about your timings- you may need to have another good look around to see what's going on but with care - Virgin queens can easily be lost...

Yes but look at OP timings and assumption that there was only 1 cell. I've had that déjà vu before...

Unless the artificial swarm took the queen to a new box - they will be looking for eggs for a long time. I've had that déjà vu before...

16 days egg to emergence for a queen. I've had that déjà vu before...

Are they still working on it? What's the larva like? If you have frames of eggs elsewhere in abundance, you might see if they want to get going on another. I've had that déjà vu before...

We are off the radar for the time being, possibly because honey and bees are low-risk products. I reckon some form of compulsory registration will be a requirement of those chaps in Brussels, when they get bored. Unless the standard of beekeeping falls to a level that causes public nuisance and...