A Mystery....

[Codford]

I don’t mark or clip my queens - it’s a personal preference. Today on a routine inspection of one of the hives, I found a 2019 (green marked) Queen. Had a good look, but couldn’t find another.

Any suggestions/ideas how she got there?

 

[enrico]

Sure it wasn't a drone that someone had been practicing on?

 

[Codford]

Sure it wasn't a drone that someone had been practicing on?

100% sure - most definitely and unmistakably a Queen. No doubt about it.

 

[Stiffy]

I don’t mark or clip my queens - it’s a personal preference. Today on a routine inspection of one of the hives, I found a 2019 (green marked) Queen. Had a good look, but couldn’t find another.

Any suggestions/ideas how she got there?

I would suggest a swarm has taken over, it’s called usurpation.
S

 

[Repwoc]

I would suggest a swarm has taken over, it’s called usurpation.
S

Happened to one of my nucs last year. It was in my garden and I watched it happen. Once they had settled down I opened the nuc and rescued the queen I had just introduced, still in her travel cage.

 

[Codford]

Thanks Stiffy/Repwoc,

Never heard of usurpation before, but it seems to be the only option. It was at an out apiary, so nobody around to see it.

 

[madasafish]

Lost a newly mated Q in a mini nuc like that last year.

 

[chipper]

Usurpation.....have seen this once in 30years....
Have several times caught swarms around my apiaries which didn't come from my hives....