have i done wrong?

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I have a virgin that should hatch in the next 24hrs, my concern is I only have one hive nearby and there are very few drones, there are also no Beekeepers near by, should I be concerned she won't mate properly?

A queen will, if needs be, fly three miles or more to a DCA - same goes for drones - that's one heck of an area to have no bees

 

[sbisme]

Thanks JBM didn't realise the queen travelled that far, agree she should find some men willing within that radius

 

[beeno]

Hi everyone well last Wednesday I opened up the hive to find 8 queen cells on different frames which I removed leaving me one queen cell on a marked frame the question is my book says leave now for 3 weeks does this sound right? Thanks Paul

Hi Paul, If you know the date of emergence and since you have marked the frame you could go in to check that she has indeed emerged from the cell to ensure it was not a duff one. Well done you.

 

[pjb1972]

Thanks Beeno

 

[pjb1972]

Hi all this morning there was a very large amount of bees in the air from the hive looked like swarming as all over the sky have just checked hive as was worried and have found 2 opened q cells but can't see a queen would you think virgin queen flight or maybe cast swarm the queen could be there I guess but being a newbie could have missed her what's the best plan I still have the original queen in a nuc thanks in advance

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

sounds like they're seeing the virgin out on her way to see the boys - timeline looks about right as well. Glad to see you saw sense and left them alone and not went in to fiddle on 'emergence day'

 

[Hivemaker.]

looked like swarming

Most likely was.

 

[pjb1972]

Thanks jenkinsbyrnmair hope it was a mating flight

 

[beeno]

Hi pjb,
Most likely swarming or swarm preparations. Did you see them settle anywhere? Did you see them returning to the hive? They may try again if they failed to bring the queen with them. If one has swarmed there is still one left in the hive, so leave alone now for at least 14 days. It is very common to miss a QC, so don't beat yourself up about it. Good luck.

 

[pjb1972]

Thanks Beeno big learning curve this bee keeping lol didn't see them settling anywhere but does seem quieter down there will the honey in supers be ok if worse scenario she's swarmed

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Thanks Beeno big learning curve this bee keeping lol didn't see them settling anywhere but does seem quieter down there will the honey in supers be ok if worse scenario she's swarmed

honey will be fine - they don't all clear off - but I wouldn't be certain they have gone TBH.

 

[pjb1972]

honey will be fine - they don't all clear off - but I wouldn't be certain they have gone TBH.

Thanks again jenkinsbyrnmair there's still a load there so hopefully the virgin queen is there but still have the old queen to fall back on who is doing well in a nuc

 

[pjb1972]

I've just found a queen very exhausted on the floor by my hive could it be my virgin queen returned from her mating flight?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

could well be - any shredded dangly bits hanging from her bits? I would just put her by the hive entrance and see what happens

 

[pjb1972]

Thanks jenkinsbyrnmair I marked her and put her by the entrance were the bees all rallyed around her so fingers cross she will be ok she was a bit wobbly probably exhausted couldn't see any bits hanging anywhere thanks again

 

[Eyeman]

Thanks jenkinsbyrnmair I marked her and put her by the entrance were the bees all rallyed around her so fingers cross she will be ok she was a bit wobbly probably exhausted couldn't see any bits hanging anywhere thanks again

Hope you didn't clip her wings as they can go out for more than one mating flight.

 

[pjb1972]

No didn't clip her mate

 

[beeno]

Hi pjb,
The queen often comes back and has a little rest before she goes in or before the workers spot her and bully her to go in. She does more than one mating flight per day, so was perhaps in need of some TLC from her workers. I would not have marked her, but most probably no harm done. She will be easier to spot now for you. They look really funny flying around with a dot on. Fingers crossed for good mating.

 

[Eyeman]

I would not have marked her

Time to mark a new queen?
One queen breeder on here puts a disc on her thorax as soon as she emerges.
I tend to mark & clip once she has mated.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Time to mark a new queen?
One queen breeder on here puts a disc on her thorax as soon as she emerges.

He also clips her wing as he II's his queens