baggieboing
New Bee
- Joined
- Apr 13, 2009
- Messages
- 47
- Reaction score
- 0
- Location
- SE London
- Hive Type
- National
- Number of Hives
- 3
Hi everyone, further to my posts last week about my suspicions that I have a drone laying queen, it seems that I have been proved right.
Mike (Dulwich Gnome) very kindly came round to inspect my hive this morning to give me the benefit of his advice.
The Bees were extremely well behaved (despite my newbie clumsiness) and allowed a thorough inspection.
On 2 to 3 frames there was sealed drone brood. It was not irregular in pattern and was centralised on each frame in a tight group. There was not a lot of it (maybe 40-50 sealed cells each side of the frame) and there was evidence of unsealed larvae. Some of the cappings were slightly irregular in height and not uniform but I dont think unusual enough to be any more suspicious.
There are plenty of bees,covering most frames, lots of activity, plenty of stores and pollen going in and to all intents and purposes a really happy, prolific and productive colony, just no worker brood!!!
So, what are my options? Shall I simply let nature take its course and allow it to die out over the next few weeks?
Do I have enough time to get a mated Queen in there (if I can find one) and still have enough bees left to nurse the brood etc?
Do I bust a gut to try to save what has been a wonderfully gentle colony? Or do I just let them die and buy a Nuc in April?
What do you all think?
Anyone know if I can get a mated Queen as a matter of urgency?
Is it worth the risk?
Many thanks in advance, and also thanks to Mike and Karin (Polyanwood) for their invaluable support.
Nick
Mike (Dulwich Gnome) very kindly came round to inspect my hive this morning to give me the benefit of his advice.
The Bees were extremely well behaved (despite my newbie clumsiness) and allowed a thorough inspection.
On 2 to 3 frames there was sealed drone brood. It was not irregular in pattern and was centralised on each frame in a tight group. There was not a lot of it (maybe 40-50 sealed cells each side of the frame) and there was evidence of unsealed larvae. Some of the cappings were slightly irregular in height and not uniform but I dont think unusual enough to be any more suspicious.
There are plenty of bees,covering most frames, lots of activity, plenty of stores and pollen going in and to all intents and purposes a really happy, prolific and productive colony, just no worker brood!!!
So, what are my options? Shall I simply let nature take its course and allow it to die out over the next few weeks?
Do I have enough time to get a mated Queen in there (if I can find one) and still have enough bees left to nurse the brood etc?
Do I bust a gut to try to save what has been a wonderfully gentle colony? Or do I just let them die and buy a Nuc in April?
What do you all think?
Anyone know if I can get a mated Queen as a matter of urgency?
Is it worth the risk?
Many thanks in advance, and also thanks to Mike and Karin (Polyanwood) for their invaluable support.
Nick