Melbourne12
New Bee
- Joined
- Feb 23, 2009
- Messages
- 69
- Reaction score
- 0
- Location
- Harrow, UK
- Hive Type
- National
- Number of Hives
- 4
One of our colonies is a swarm captured on May 2nd. We left them for a couple of weeks when there were no eggs, and then for another fortnight, by which time the queen had obviously mated and started laying. There was even a little capped brood. That was on June 1st.
Yesterday, our hives were inspected by FERA, and the inspector pointed out that the colony had become queenless. Sure enough, no eggs, only a very few open cells with larvae, but several frames with capped brood. So sometime shortly after our inspection 9 days ago, she'd disappeared.
I realise that it's possible that we damaged her during our inspection, but what other reasons might there be?
I should add that there were no queen cells, and no sign that the bees had attempted to raise another queen.
Yesterday, our hives were inspected by FERA, and the inspector pointed out that the colony had become queenless. Sure enough, no eggs, only a very few open cells with larvae, but several frames with capped brood. So sometime shortly after our inspection 9 days ago, she'd disappeared.
I realise that it's possible that we damaged her during our inspection, but what other reasons might there be?
I should add that there were no queen cells, and no sign that the bees had attempted to raise another queen.
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