Has she swarmed after only 6 weeks??

[VixyB]

Hi,

I just did a hive check and there are two queen cups with larvae in them. I can't find HM (she is about 6 weeks old and not a great layer. I haven't been able to see her at all since she hatched) and can't see any eggs (I'm not great at seeing them though). There is some sealed brood but very few larvae.

So my question is - has HM swarmed in which case I will let them get on with it or should I do something else? I was wondering whether I should put one of the frames with a queen cell into a nuc?

Any wisdom greatfully received!

 

[tonel]

If only 2 QCs and the old Q being a bit of an underperformer maybe the bees are in the process of supercedure? Would be tempted to leave them be - am only a beginner myself though, am sure some more experienced beekeepers will be along to advise soon

 

[Erichalfbee]

I'm sure the bees are superseding their inadequate queen.
You have two choices.
Let them get on with it, which is what I would do, but then I have 7 colonies and losing one wouldn't be a disaster.
Buy in a laying queen.

 

[VixyB]

If buying in a laying queen is an option, I might do that. At least she would be a proven layer and be marked!

 

[Davelin]

If buying in a laying queen is an option, I might do that. At least she would be a proven layer and be marked!

If you go down this route you will need to be certain your queen is not there, or find and remove her.

If you can't find her it may not be certain she is not there, so introducing another queen would be risky.

 

[Erichalfbee]

You MUST find your queen.

 

[VixyB]

I just can't see her. I have looked and looked for weeks. Even the bee inspector couldn't find her. What on earth do I do if I can't find her?

 

[REDWOOD]

Did you see any eggs as this will give you some indication that she is still there which is a good thing with supercedure, your new queens will emerge in about 12 days and there is a good possibility she will be mated well if weather is good and there are a good supply of drones. If there are no eggs then I would buy a new queen.

 

[VixyB]

I looked really hard with a torch and couldn't see any. Previously there has been a good amount of larvae, but this time there were about 5, including the ones in the queen cells.

 

[Davelin]

All things considered I would be inclined to let them get on with it.

You would be surprised how many times I have gone to a hive thinking this is your last, last chance and if there aren't any eggs I'm going to combine, throw you in the hedge etc, and they sort it out.

Yesterday I looked at a hive that I was convinced had a drone layer. Only drone brood since she had been there, had moved them alongside another hive; went yesterday with newspaper ready to combine and lo and behold two full frames of worker brood.

If you leave then you have two chances, they will supersede or your old queen will come good. If you buy in a new queen and can't find the old one, you can bet your boots the old queen will see off the new one.

 

[VixyB]

They are such a worry as a newbie!!! They aren't a strong colony so the next queen has to be a good layer!!

 

[Davelin]

Just like your first child!! Lol

 

[Erichalfbee]

If they are a weak colony I would put them into a poly nuc box, let them get on with it and cross your fingers.

 

[Bosleeu]

It's not likely to be swarming, so my money would be on supercedure as well.

It doesn't look like there are a lot of queens to buy at the moment, so I would leave them be and cross my fingers. I agree as said above it may be a good idea to put them in a polynuc unless they are quite strong.

If you are lucky enough to get hold of a queen you must find the old queen and destroy her, as well as any queen cells. That is, if you want to go down that route.

 

[enrico]

My opinion for what it is worth.... If they were mine, I would leave them until next spring and see what had happened. If you have lost them then so be it, but the chances are that their want to survive will win and all will be well!
E

 

[user 6228]

Hi,

I just did a hive check and there are two queen cups with larvae in them. I can't find HM (she is about 6 weeks old and not a great layer. I haven't been able to see her at all since she hatched) and can't see any eggs (I'm not great at seeing them though). There is some sealed brood but very few larvae.

So my question is - has HM swarmed in which case I will let them get on with it or should I do something else? I was wondering whether I should put one of the frames with a queen cell into a nuc?

Any wisdom greatfully received!

yep looks like supercedure...
A polynuc, some food and let them get on with it.

perhaps a PIR (recticel/kingspn) bonnet

 

[VixyB]

So would I just lift the brood frames and as much of the stores as will fit out of their hive and put a polynuc on the stand in its place?

I have the polynuc that they arrived in that I can use. It has a feeding chamber in it as well.

What is the benefit of moving them into a nuc, compared to leaving them where they are?

Thanks

 

[ratcatcher]

I looked really hard with a torch

a magnifying glass works better

 

[VixyB]

a magnifying glass works better

Or both!?

 

[Floyd]

Not sure if you have any extra hardwareto perform a split so as to reduce the number of bees in each hive.

However you could always make a division board leave for a week and see if you have any larva in one side, and thats where she will be. Unless of course if she wanders outside the hive and back in the other side.

Just a thought never tried it myself.