- Joined
- May 31, 2018
- Messages
- 255
- Reaction score
- 82
- Location
- Dingle
- Hive Type
- National
- Number of Hives
- 8
I have a hive that for the last 3 weeks, has turned in to complete monsters. Before that they were very easy to inspect.
Hive was on x 2 national brood chambers, QE & x 2 commercial supers, both have x 3 undrawn frames, the rest is capped.
3 weeks ago they swarmed, I went in to knock down QC's and a few virgins emerged during the inspection.
I have tried to have a look in on x 2 occasions since then. First time I could only lift the crown board before I was mobbed, 30 odd bees biting my ankles and the same on my gloves.
As yesterday was sunny day I went in with some welding gloves and used a sugar spray to try to keep them occupied. The top brood box has been backfilled with nectar, same for some of the lower BB. In the lower BB there was 1 frame with some eggs in, eggs were mostly still standing, about 20. 1 cell has x 2 eggs but at the bottom of the cell, which I have seen before with a new queen. But 1 cell has x 2 eggs on the side of the cell. 1 egg in a queen cup.
Does this sound like a queen who has not been mated well?
In peoples experience, when a hive turns pissy like this how long in the presence of a laying queen before they settle down again?
I have decided to leave them alone and see if they are trying to raise a new queen. I gave another super in case they want to move nectar up, also removed plastic QE which they seem intent to build wax and honey through
Hive was on x 2 national brood chambers, QE & x 2 commercial supers, both have x 3 undrawn frames, the rest is capped.
3 weeks ago they swarmed, I went in to knock down QC's and a few virgins emerged during the inspection.
I have tried to have a look in on x 2 occasions since then. First time I could only lift the crown board before I was mobbed, 30 odd bees biting my ankles and the same on my gloves.
As yesterday was sunny day I went in with some welding gloves and used a sugar spray to try to keep them occupied. The top brood box has been backfilled with nectar, same for some of the lower BB. In the lower BB there was 1 frame with some eggs in, eggs were mostly still standing, about 20. 1 cell has x 2 eggs but at the bottom of the cell, which I have seen before with a new queen. But 1 cell has x 2 eggs on the side of the cell. 1 egg in a queen cup.
Does this sound like a queen who has not been mated well?
In peoples experience, when a hive turns pissy like this how long in the presence of a laying queen before they settle down again?
I have decided to leave them alone and see if they are trying to raise a new queen. I gave another super in case they want to move nectar up, also removed plastic QE which they seem intent to build wax and honey through
Last edited:
