help - dead queen!

[popcornpie]

Just went out to top up feeder and noticed 2 bees on the grass in front of the hive with the dead queen (she was new this year and clearly marked with a blue dot). I then inspected the hive (national brood and a half). Both boxes are FULL of bees. I saw what I think was an open queen cell (empty) on bottom of a frame in brood box. There was a good healthy pattern of sealed brood and lava surrounded by pollen and honey. I couldn't see any eggs (but I do find it difficult to see them) and I couldn't see a queen. I have closed up the hive, not sure what to do next. Will the bees make a new queen? Will she have time to mate? Do I need to get a new queen?
Any advice much appreciated.

 

[B+.]

2 bees on the grass in front of the hive with the dead queen (she was new this year and clearly marked with a blue dot).
Both boxes are FULL of bees. I saw what I think was an open queen cell (empty) on bottom of a frame in brood box.
I couldn't see any eggs (but I do find it difficult to see them) and I couldn't see a queen

It sounds like you have a virgin queen in there. If you try to introduce a new queen (even if she's mated) they'll probably kill her.
Since you have a strong colony with plenty of food, I'd be inclined to let her mate so long as there are plenty of drones still around near you. If they weren't so strong, I'd say kill the virgin and replace with a mated queen, especially since it could save you around a month if she takes a while to get mated.

 

[popcornpie]

Thanks for your quick response. If there is a virgin queen, how long should I leave it before inspecting again?

 

[B+.]

Thanks for your quick response. If there is a virgin queen, how long should I leave it before inspecting again?

She won't be sexually mature for six days after emergence but virgins are incredibly nervous and run around as though they're high on caffeine. They're also known for flying off and becoming bird food....so, best keep the hive shut for a couple of weeks.

 

[popcornpie]

 

[Arfermo]

B+,
I have a hive that, after multiple supersedures due to the weather I think, has a new virgin Q, which like you said ran all over the frame until I was able to mark her. But when the mark was dry and she was released she flew away but almost immediately found the entrance and went in. It bothers me that she is somewhat shorter than any other Q in my other hives and has a rather fat abdomen, so much so that I wonder if she will be able to lay whenever. I've had at least 3 other hives that have superseded more than once too so it seems it is a fairly common problem this year judging by some other posts. No other QCs or spare queens in any other hives either. Leave it 2 weeks or squish and unite? PM if poss please.

 

[beeno]

The bees were not happy thereof continuous attempts at supercedure. Sounds a bad queen to go into winter with...

 

[Mrs Shoot]

Checked my hives today. One is a swarm I collected back in June, had done an AS in July, they are now superseding. One open elongated charged QC, just leaving them to it. Plenty of drones still about. Fingers crossed.

 

[enrico]

It is still only August, still plenty of time for virgins to be mated in a strong hive. In a weak hive with little brood then maybe I would be a bit worried but ......
E