Did the queen make it or not?

[The Gardener]

I live in the borders of Scotland and the bees have been flying for about a week. I've done an inspection on one of our smaller hives. They are placid, occupying four frames and taking down the last of the fondant. There is plenty of honey stores.

The remainder of the cells are polished, but there are no eggs or brood present. I also found two queen cups.

I didn't find the queen, but then again, I rarely do.

Do you think she is there and simply waiting to lay? Or did she perish through the Winter?

Thanks for your input

 

[dickbowyer]

if you mean by queen cups, empty inverted cells hanging off comb and you were here in the cold south where we would not have done any inspection yet and there were really no cells with eggs, larva or brood, i would believe colony was queen less.

 

[Poly Hive]

You do not mention what the hive type is but it is quite possible the weather being so cold is putting her off, and the cups are they very white and fresh looking or more dingy from dirty feet? If she is off the lay then she will be pretty much virgin size and very over lookable.

PH

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

wait until you get weather suitable for inspecting and look again. Nothing you can do at this point anyway - if you're lucky, as PH says, she may just be off lay - opening up at this time of year won't have helped though.

 

[snelgrove]

to early for opening up colonies and removing frames, as already mentioned if the colony is doomed with no queen or a drone layer nothing can really be done anyway, far better to wait until a warm day in april

 

[For want of a better word]

Feed with some fondant.... wait till it is T shirt & shorts weather... look for eggs and larvae... put a test frame in....and the cuckoos have not arrived here in the

Greatgret'ngreenslimeyTamarrivervalleyallsetaboutwithsecondandnonaffordablehomes...
yet!!

Yeghes da

 

[The Gardener]

Thanks for the input. It was 16 degrees here so I was happy to open the hive. Given they are flying and placid, I believe the queen is present, but not begun to lay. Going to keep an eye on them and try not to be too paranoid. Thank you for helping.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

the cuckoos have not arrived here in the

Greatgret'ngreenslimeyTamarrivervalleyallsetaboutwithsecondandnonaffordablehomes...
yet!!

Yeghes da

maybe not - I'm sure I've heard a few though - on here!

 

[Millet]

Have the Swallows arrived anywhere down south yet, when they turn up its usually a sign that the weather is going to turn for the better,we have had no Cuckoos here for years.

 

[snelgrove]

Have the Swallows arrived anywhere down south yet, when they turn up its usually a sign that the weather is going to turn for the better,we have had no Cuckoos here for years.

Get Them here but not until may at earliest

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

It was 16 degrees here so I was happy to open the hive.

Let's hope the bees were - what temperatures did you have the few days preceeding, or since?

 

[Millet]

Get Them here but not until may at earliest

2yrs ago they arrived before April in northumberland nearly 3 wks earlier than the earliest time before that, it turned out to be cracking lambing weather.

 

[Plenty of honey]

Have the Swallows arrived anywhere down south yet, when they turn up its usually a sign that the weather is going to turn for the better,we have had no Cuckoos here for years.

Not seen them yet here, the other side of the pond. we are on their migration route.
This weather has been the same as you guys, pretty chill easterly for two weeks now. i cant wings as its enabled us to get a lot done,but a little warmer would be nice.

 

[BrianO]

Not seen them yet here, the other side of the pond. we are on their migration route.
This weather has been the same as you guys, pretty chill easterly for two weeks now. i cant wings as its enabled us to get a lot done,but a little warmer would be nice.

Ditto

But plus side no wind as preceding months !

Also midday temps have allowed good foraging, as witnessed yesterday when I watched at the entrance of some of my colonies . Piling in and out with good numbers laden with assorted pollen... Great to see

 

[For want of a better word]

Not seen them yet here, the other side of the pond. we are on their migration route.
This weather has been the same as you guys, pretty chill easterly for two weeks now. i cant wings as its enabled us to get a lot done,but a little warmer would be nice.

Give us a shout when the Swifts fly in..... roll on Summer!!!

Yeghes da

 

[Erichalfbee]

Give us a shout when the Swifts fly in..... roll on Summer!!!

Yeghes da

Oooh yes, my favourite bird.

 

[Millet]

Oooh yes, my favourite bird.

They do my head in screaming the place down all day.. lol

 

[Swarm]

When I was a boy we had loads of Swifts in Trelewis, they used to fly under huge Beech trees that follow the footpath to the Pandy. I had to duck back then so you can imagine how low they were.

 

[Tom Jay]

At this time of year I look to the proportion of bees coming home with pollen as an indication of the queen laying. Would a colony whose queen has died through the winter be foraging pollen? Does a colony with a queen who is later to start laying be bringing in pollen in quantity? I look forward to answers from those with more experience than I.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

At Would a colony whose queen has died through the winter be foraging pollen? .

Yes

Does a colony with a queen who is later to start laying be bringing in pollen in quantity?

Yes