A bit baffled

[Angularity]

My 'problem colony' is at it again.

Two weeks ago, after a failed re-queening, there were 5 or 6 queen cells. In an attempt to salvage something without swarming, I split them into a nuc and the main box, with one cell each. Last weekend there was lots of fuss and noise outside the box, which I learned on the form was probably the hive wishing their virgin well, off on her mating flight. It definitely wasn't a swarm, because I looked in after the fuss had died down, expecting the box to be empty, but it was packed. the noise and behaviour were wrong too, they were spread all over the bushes near the hive over a 10m radius, rather than concentrated on one point.

Today there were fresh eggs, but also 5 or 6 queen cups occupied but not extended. I'm guessing they're a hang-over from when they were queen less for a short while.

What should I do now? I have great difficulty finding the (any) queen, so an artificial swarm would probably fail due to my incompetence. I believe they have lots of space to lay.

 

[mjt68]

My 'problem colony' is at it again.

Two weeks ago, after a failed re-queening, there were 5 or 6 queen cells. In an attempt to salvage something without swarming, I split them into a nuc and the main box, with one cell each. Last weekend there was lots of fuss and noise outside the box, which I learned on the form was probably the hive wishing their virgin well, off on her mating flight. It definitely wasn't a swarm, because I looked in after the fuss had died down, expecting the box to be empty, but it was packed. the noise and behaviour were wrong too, they were spread all over the bushes near the hive over a 10m radius, rather than concentrated on one point.

Today there were fresh eggs, but also 5 or 6 queen cups occupied but not extended. I'm guessing they're a hang-over from when they were queen less for a short while.

What should I do now? I have great difficulty finding the (any) queen, so an artificial swarm would probably fail due to my incompetence. I believe they have lots of space to lay.

Where in Cambs are you?

 

[enrico]

I can honestly say I have never had my bees spreading themselves over nearby bushes. I think you need someone near you to volunteer to look through your hives with you.....come on folks, any takers!
E

 

[beeno]

That's what it looked like when my Apidea absconded as soon as she started laying. They were spread out over the bushes fanning to draw the queen to them and she found them!

 

[Angularity]

That's what it looked like when my Apidea absconded as soon as she started laying. They were spread out over the bushes fanning to draw the queen to them and she found them!

They've done it again, yesterday. I had checked them, found that the new queen was laying whole frames of drones, and that there was one queen cell at the bottom of a frame. So, I left them, expecting supercedure to take its course.
So, yesterday, right on cue the new queen hatches, goes off for her maiden flight and al the bees go with her. They landed on a nearby tree and our two bamboo hedges. It almost looked like a swarm developing on the tree, but after about 15 minutes they went back into the hive. I know they didn't fly off because we watched them move, as a cloud, back into the area of the garden where the hive was, then settle down again and re-enter the hive.

So, with 4000 friends playing gooseberry, I doubt that this new queen got well mated, either.

As they killed the Buckfast queen I put in a couple of months ago, this bunch of dozy sods need to sort out their attitude (some would say I need to do a bit of that, but hey). I think a merger's on the cards.

 

[Angularity]

Where in Cambs are you?

Stetchworth. Thanks for the (implied) offer, but I think it's a bit of a trip from yours.

 

[Fritillary]

So, with 4000 friends playing gooseberry, I doubt that this new queen got well mated, either.

Well, I don't know. I saw a cloud of mine settle all over big bush here once, and then return home, and eggs materialised later. Possibly more like a fashionably giant wedding party with all relatives, than playing gooseberry? And another band from a feral colony nearby which settled in a lump inside a magnolia (a few days after I'd collected the prime swarm) before flying back again. There also, the colony did carry on with a new queen.

 

[beeno]

As you describe it the queen would be too recently emerged to fly. She needs a couple of days to harden off. Perhaps you have missed a QC? Can you hear any piping?
On a slightly different note, I hived a very small swarm this morning which had been sitting on a rose bush for 4-5 days. (I usually hive swarms after 1700 hrs when they are less likely to want to go elsewhere.) Did not take them long. Saw the queen follow them out. Swirling over a small tree and over my vegetable patch and then back to the hive to my amazement. Bearding on the outside of the hive not wanting to go in with some bees dancing like made on the cluster. Looked for the queen and caged her. I will let her onto the comb tomorrow afternoon to see how it goes. May very well lose this one!

 

[Hebeegeebee]

A mating swarm can happen. With your DLQ and one queencell, maybe you could have removed the queen and the queencell and put in a frame of young brood from better stock? Simple selection process.

 

[Teemore]

They've done it again, yesterday. I had checked them, found that the new queen was laying whole frames of drones, and that there was one queen cell at the bottom of a frame. So, I left them, expecting supercedure to take its course.

If the queen has only been laying drones, this colony will have no material from which to make a new queen... unless its a drag queen of course and I don't think the colony would survive that...

 

[beeno]

Update, my little swarm seems to have settled and pollen going in. I think they tried to abscond, but thought better of it since they had already been sitting around for 4-5 days. Difficult to tell if she was a slimmed down laying queen or a virgin. I would guess slimmed down laying queen as all has been quiet and industrious foraging going on.