Clipped queen gone

[luckyclover]

Hi all,

A hive with a clipped queen has likely tried to swarm, returning minus the queen. Couldn't find her outside the hive.
I have left only one queen cell by pulling down all the others a week after noticing she had gone. If there is only one QC will the bees attempt another swarm with the virgin or not?

 

[oliver90owner]

They might abscond but they cannot swarm

 

[luckyclover]

I presume if there is another QC in there when the virgin emerges she could leave in a cast?

So as long as she is the only hope of a queen no casts will leave? Just double checking

 

[Skyhook]

Sounds right to me- but worth making sure there are no other reasons for them to go eg overcrowding or starving. If there are they may be off again as soon as the new queen has eggs they can build a cell with.

 

[Hivemaker.]

If they tried to swarm already and still have the swarming inpulse,then there is a reasonable chance they will go shortly after the virgin emerges,even if only one cell is left.