that I suspected was Q-
If everything looked good last time you inspected (and that was recently), then I'd guess that there's nothing to worry about, but see what happens with your test frame.
Thank’s James, yes I wondered about the eggs at the bottom of the cells. I’m hopeful that it is a newly mated Queen starting to lay. I last saw the original Queen on 23rd June and there was a good amount of BIAS at every inspection until 17th July. Haven’t seen any eggs since then, until today. I’m hoping that I have missed a Q cell and there is a mated Queen in the hive
Here is a photo I took of multiple eggs in cells in a queenright colony. I was able to see the queen on the comb, so different to your situation. Having said that, I think I'd be too inquisitive not to have a really thorough look for a queen in a situation like thisThank’s James, yes I wondered about the eggs at the bottom of the cells. I’m hopeful that it is a newly mated Queen starting to lay. I last saw the original Queen on 23rd June and there was a good amount of BIAS at every inspection until 17th July. Haven’t seen any eggs since then, until today. I’m hoping that I have missed a Q cell and there is a mated Queen in the hive
Has anyone else any thoughts on what is happening?
Yeah I think you’re right to suggest a really careful look through the BB’s. I’ve been searching for a marked Queen, but need to start looking for a younger Queen. Gosh it’s a well populated hive so might be a challenge, I’ll maybe resort to shaking them through a Q excluder or would that be a bit too much for a newly laying Queen?Here is a photo I took of multiple eggs in cells in a queenright colony. I was able to see the queen on the comb, so different to your situation. Having said that, I think I'd be too inquisitive not to have a really thorough look for a queen in a situation like this
How long did it take for your multiple egg laying Queen to settle down?
I don't think I had great success with it, but I can't recall it well. It was a weak colony in a poor area. I thought it was because there were not enough bees to keep up with her, but your situation sounds different. I remember Finman commenting (when I posted about it before) along the lines that there may be something wrong with her to lay eggs like that.
..
Yes exactly, a dump of eggs in a small Queen cup.
Thanks Michael, I’m beyond disappointed
but it’s a learning curve. Do you think that if I shake the bee’s out a good distance from the hive that the LW’s will not make it back and I could put some young brood and eggs from another hive and they might create a Q cell? Just grasping at straws 
All bees can fly, but my guess is that any that have yet to locate to that hive are likely to mooch about and join any colony that will have them.
Unlikely, as the workers are old and plenty of young nurse bees are needed to produce sufficient royal jelly to produce a good queen.
Relax: this is a minor blip in the season and you have enough colonies to make good, now or next season.
It doesn't work like that. Why would you think that LW's cannot fly back. Sadly you are grasping at straws. Reviving a LW colony is very difficult and seldom works so shake them out and pack the hive away for the time being.Thanks Michael, I’m beyond disappointed
Thank you for your advice, it’s a good sunny day here today and there is a flow on so I’ll get the job done. If I leave there original hive in situ and close up the entrance will that be ok, or do I need to deconstruct the hive?
Oh, Lordy, no! Take it all away at the start, hive stand and all.
I read somewhere, I think it was The Apiarist that the LW are often unable to fly back to the hive due to the egg burden they are carrying.
Okay that makes sense, thanks
no, that's just a myth, all workers can fly, many workers, even in queenright colonies lay eggs. shake them out in front of other hives, they vwill beg their way in and the strong queen pheromones in their new home will supress the laying instinct - the egg police will sort out the rest
.
