Could a Queen mate this late in the year? (Mid October)

[BernardBlack]

It’s mid October now.

Could a queen successfully mate this late in the season?

 

[Erichalfbee]

Have you got drones?
Is the weather set fair?
Mine were thrown out weeks ago and west Wales has rain forecast for weeks so definitely not here.

 

[BernardBlack]

Have you got drones?
Is the weather set fair?
Mine were thrown out weeks ago and west Wales has rain forecast for weeks so definitely not here.

Yes I still see drones in my hives.

Mildish weather at the moment. Not sure about the coming days

 

[Erichalfbee]

Well it’s up to you. I wouldn’t chance it. What’s the situation? Emerged virgin queen or queen cells?

 

[madasafish]

My dequeened min nuc raised and apparently mated a Queen about a month ago. Given the warmish weather and drones, I'd try it ,(but would not risk a lot of bees on it and be prepared to fail.)

 

[BernardBlack]

Well it’s up to you. I wouldn’t chance it. What’s the situation? Emerged virgin queen or queen cells?

Queen cell.

 

[Erichalfbee]

One? Then supersedure
It might be successful or you might have a DLQ in the spring.
If you can afford to lose the colony then leave it alone.

 

[Ian123]

I’ve had late matings but with only a cell atm your certainly pushing your luck. I saw a few drones at the weekend but numbers are way down and I’ve a lot of nucs with recently mated queens in so I’d expect colonies to have kept a few. I would leave them to it if it’s supersedure unless you have excess nucs.

 

[Wilco]

Possible but unlikely. Drones in the colony with the most were being evicted during the warm weather last week.

 

[BernardBlack]

One? Then supersedure
It might be successful or you might have a DLQ in the spring.
If you can afford to lose the colony then leave it alone.

I had thought if it’s too late for a Queen to get mated, that I would combine this colony with a strong nuc I have (its Queen is laying well).

 

[Erichalfbee]

I had thought if it’s too late for a Queen to get mated, that I would combine this colony with a strong nuc I have (its Queen is laying well).

Just make absolutely sure there is no queen there

 

[rook66]

It’s mid October now.

Could a queen successfully mate this late in the season?

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13592-019-00684-xThis late in the season the drones will probably be past it, the sperm may not be viable.

 

[JamezF]

I'm amazed people still have more than the occasional drone in the first place. My QXes were rammed with them (dead) when I took the supers off in mid-August.

James

 

[Poly Hive]

Two things to consider. Are you sure its a viable Q cell and not one re sealed after the virgin emerged and the viability of drones is now dubious at best so all in all certainly up here not a hope.

PH

 

[Sutty]

I'm amazed people still have more than the occasional drone in the first place. My QXes were rammed with them (dead) when I took the supers off in mid-August.

James

I wasn't seeing drones at the hive entrances by mid August, but I still got a queen mated.
I think the chances are low now, and even if successful may be only mated with a small number of drones.
I would be interesting to know how late in the year people have had successful matings. (And I'm not referring to the works Xmas party!)