- Joined
- Nov 26, 2008
- Messages
- 1,075
- Reaction score
- 355
- Location
- Haddenham Buckinghamshire
- Hive Type
- 14x12
- Number of Hives
- 20
Here is my theory. Please shoot me down in flames or contribute your own theory.
Recently many beeks have bemoaned a trend of hives becoming queenless in the Autumn.
We know that many queens stop laying when treating with Apiguard etc for varroa.
We all would like hives that supersede in late summer.
Here is my theory: Old queen stops laying with Apiguard on. Bees want to supersede her but for 4 weeks they have no brood. Old queen does not resume laying or does not produce viable eggs in time for a late autumn raising of a new queen and successful mating.
We then have smaller colonies and no viable queen.
This week I found two of my Hives to be queenless. They did not swarm earlier in the year and the queens until late August were prolific.
Recently many beeks have bemoaned a trend of hives becoming queenless in the Autumn.
We know that many queens stop laying when treating with Apiguard etc for varroa.
We all would like hives that supersede in late summer.
Here is my theory: Old queen stops laying with Apiguard on. Bees want to supersede her but for 4 weeks they have no brood. Old queen does not resume laying or does not produce viable eggs in time for a late autumn raising of a new queen and successful mating.
We then have smaller colonies and no viable queen.
This week I found two of my Hives to be queenless. They did not swarm earlier in the year and the queens until late August were prolific.