2 bees in one queen cell.

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Sutty

From Glossop, North Derbyshire, UK
BeeKeeping Supporter
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Location
Glossop, North Derbyshire
Hive Type
National
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4 to 12!
After witnessing a swarm issue from one of my hives yesterday I examined it and found sealed queen cells. I selected a nice one and went on to cut some out of the next frame. Before I got much further I found a recently emerged QC and realised the swarm was probably a cast, confirmed when one of the 2 cells I had cut out revealed a queen wriggling out backwards from the hole I'd created at the top of the cell. I then put her in the hive and released several other virgins from the remaining cells.
When I got to the cell I originally selected I found 2 dead nearly fully developed bees in it, both head down. Hard to be certain they are both queens. Has anyone seen this before?? Head down seems unlikely to be workers resealed into the cell and it certainly didn't seem to be resealed - not that easy to get into.
 

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