Feeding the queen

[Monbees]

This may be a silly question, and just for interest really but l have been trying to find out whether the queen ever feeds herself or is she totally reliant on the nurse bees feeding her? My books seem to be silent on the subject.

 

[Erichalfbee]

I've watched queen cells emerge and the first thing the new queens do is dive in to the nearest cell of honey.
As for mated queens I can't say Ive seen any feed but it's common practice (though I don't do it) to take attendants out of queen introduction cages and queens seem to survive some considerable time on their own.
Similarly, banked queens survive so....
Over to the more experienced.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

This may be a silly question, and just for interest really but l have been trying to find out whether the queen ever feeds herself or is she totally reliant on the nurse bees feeding her? My books seem to be silent on the subject.

Maybe find some better books then? the ones I've read say that although the queen is usually fed by the other bees, they can feed themselves if needs be.

 

[madasafish]

I find raising queens is easier if they are raised in an incubator. When the queens emerge into their cages, there is a small amount of honey which the queen eats.. (placed in the bottom of the cage in advance).

 

[Monbees]

Maybe find some better books then? the ones I've read say that although the queen is usually fed by the other bees, they can feed themselves if needs be.

I don't suppose forum rules would allow you to recommend?

 

[Erichalfbee]

I don't suppose forum rules would allow you to recommend?

Of course they would
I had a look in Tautz and Seeley and couldn’t find anything.
There are discussions on beesource and these are based on observations
Yes virgin queens feed themselves. Mated queens can but as their diet is made by the workers to fulfill a certain function ( laying) how long could a mated queen sustain herself?
In a colony a mated queen doesn’t have to feed or groom herself, it’s done for her. Whether any studies have been undertaken on queens in totally unnatural solitary confinement I don’t know. Is there any point in doing them?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I don't suppose forum rules would allow you to recommend?

To be frank, I can't remember which ones the references were in, but more than one mentioned the queen fending for herself. At a guess, some were probably older publications where the authors were not just cutting and pasting and not repeating the assumed knowledge of, 'Queens always arrive in a cage with attendants so her feeding herself is of no consequence'.

 

[Beefriendly]

To my knowledge non have dealt with what happens to her poo....

 

[Poly Hive]

That is glossed over with a weasel term like "caring for her"

Does it actually matter?

I hae ma doots.

PH

 

[SDM]

Purely observation, but ive seen mated queens appear to feed themselves when doing direct introductions. Even if just a few minutes out of their colony, they quite often head straight for a nectar cell for half a minute or so before resuming laying.

 

[Beefriendly]

That is glossed over with a weasel term like "caring for her"

Does it actually matter?

I hae ma doots.

PH

The answer is unlikely to change ones beekeeping habits.
But as I'm fascinated by bees and enjoy learning about them I would really like to know if (or how) they remove her poo or not.

A few independent observant beekeepers have told me they occasionally see the queen flying at the same time as part of those mass flights you get towards late afternoon. Not always.... but occasionally.

 

[For want of a better word]

The answer is unlikely to change ones beekeeping habits.
But as I'm fascinated by bees and enjoy learning about them I would really like to know if (or how) they remove her poo or not.

A few independent observant beekeepers have told me they occasionally see the queen flying at the same time as part of those mass flights you get towards late afternoon. Not always.... but occasionally.

I was told all queens should be clipped!

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I was told all queens should be clipped!

Was that coco the 'master' beekeeper again?

 

[drex]

I was told all queens should be clipped!

I do not clip any of mine, but I do mark them. Clipping only buys me a couple of extra days during swarming.

 

[Erichalfbee]

I was told all queens should be clipped!

I think if you keep your bees in your back garden and you have neighbours they should be. I don’t so I don’t

 

[Ian123]

I was told all queens should be clipped!

Never seen the need to clip any of mine

 

[madasafish]

I was told the moon was made of cheese

 

[Etton]

Never seen the need to clip any of mine

I have never clipped, but thinking of doing so, as surely you can prevent a swarm if she is unable to fly off, then do a split?

 

[For want of a better word]

I was told the moon was made of cheese

Perhaps if we ever put a man ( or woman) on the moon, they will find out

 

[Hebeegeebee]

I have never clipped, but thinking of doing so, as surely you can prevent a swarm if she is unable to fly off, then do a split?

I clip mine - and yes if the colony attempts a swarm the bees return and you will often find the queen either a few yards away or under the hive or between the boxes and lifts of a WBC or occasionally, back in the hive at which time you need to find her or they will attempt to swarm the next day. If you don't find the queen, then you have lost her but saved 1/2 the bees in the colony which you would have also lost (potentially).