Is it ok to go through supers on hive with a virgin queen in?

[The Riviera Kid]

I went to see one of my colonies today (one that I have artificially swarmed back in early April) and found a dreaded sealed queen cup I suspect that I was not thorough enough in destroying a queen cell that I found when I last checked them 4 days ago.

Will adding/removing supers before the new queen is mated disturb her and cause her to abscond? Is it still ok to go through the supers if I leave the brood box well alone?

 

[thedeaddiplomat]

What would be the purpose of going through the super?

The principal reason for going through a hive is to check that there are no Queen cells - and thus a risk of swarming. But you know the answer to that question. So unless you have reason to believe their is any disease in the hive, would it not be as well to leave things as they are until the new Queen has had a chance to mate and start laying?

But then, I am not as experienced as many others on this forum, so lets see what they say!

 

[The Riviera Kid]

Sorry, I'd just got back from the hive and I should have added a bit of detail...

There is a super that is just about ready to come off (honey is about all capped)

The supers below it are filling so they may well need another empty super in the next 2 weeks as well.

I usually go through the supers each time I inspect as this colony is the queen of brace comb building. They make it everywhere and anywhere so I like to keep on top of it.

 

[thedeaddiplomat]

Ah!

Well in that case, and assuming that there is a QE between the brood box and the super, my inclination would be to whip off the full super and bung on a new one with the minimum possible disturbance.

But as I said... there are others here with much more experience. Maybe one of them will offer advice?

 

[Gardenbees]

If you have to open up the hive when there's a virgin queen in there, best break the usual rule and wait until late afternoon, ie. when you can be reasonably sure that she's in there and not out flying. They have a reputation for getting confused or put off by changes in the hive whilst they're trying to find their way back in, risking getting lost if they try to fly back when the hive is opened up and looking different. I don't know if this is actually true or not, but either way it would definitely be best to keep the disturbance to a minimum!