New laying queen but capped cells present?

[Jonnyl]

I went into my second hive today and was delighted to find eggs. I split them in the first week of May, with no QC and let them get on with it. Que really wet and miserable weather, I'm in scotland. After adding a frame of eggs from my other hive and then another today I finally saw eggs. All good. However there are a couple of sealed qc and 3 play cups present all in the centre of two frames. I had thought supersedure but the hive has been calm throughout and the brood/laying pattern seems ok. Lots of pollen and enough stores and seems to be lots of bees. I've now put a fresh super on and will leave them but I can't explain the capped cells? They were giving one cell particular attention when I was studying the frame. Cheers everyone.

 

[eltalia]

I went into my second hive today and was delighted to find eggs. I split them in the first week of May, with no QC and let them get on with it. Que really wet and miserable weather, I'm in scotland. After adding a frame of eggs from my other hive and then another today I finally saw eggs. All good. However there are a couple of sealed qc and 3 play cups present all in the centre of two frames. I had thought supersedure but the hive has been calm throughout and the brood/laying pattern seems ok. Lots of pollen and enough stores and seems to be lots of bees. I've now put a fresh super on and will leave them but I can't explain the capped cells? They were giving one cell particular attention when I was studying the frame. Cheers everyone.

Wellll, where they havn't acted on capped QCs being present it is likely they
will not, tearing them down soon.
Buuuut to be sure - given sunny weather may be coming - fit a QR to the entrance for some
days into the interim, preventing any queen flying. Retail example attached - a bespoke
QR is easily made up from a simple bar across the entrance. 4.5mm in height is the magic number.

Bill

 

[birdsandbees]

I have found QC's to be quite common when a newly mated queen is concerned, sometimes its the bees being impatient waiting for the queen to get up to speed but often they know something isn't right with her, for example I have a beautiful looking dark queen recently mated and laying well that they are superseding, on closer inspection she's picked up an injury and has a rear leg not working properly.
It could be just the bees reacting to a new queen getting up to strength so as long as your queen appears to be laying worker brood properly knock down the cells and see if they build more.

 

[Jonnyl]

Thank you for your advice. They've sorted everything themselves despite my hamfisted keeping methods and I am thinking to leave well alone. If they were going to swarm they would have already and if course they were 7 weeks or so with no queen so they will lacking bees. Wouldnt it be the case that they will either destroy the cell of let the queens battle it out if supercedure is the reason? It rained here for so long that I simply think she didnt get out to mate and therefore the second frame of eggs was used as insurance by them. Possible/likely? Thanks

 

[Murox]

.....snip.... If they were going to swarm they would have already and if course they were 7 weeks or so with no queen so they will lacking bees. Wouldnt it be the case that they will either destroy the cell of let the queens battle it out if supercedure is the reason? It rained here for so long that I simply think she didnt get out to mate and therefore the second frame of eggs was used as insurance by them. Possible/likely? Thanks

Yes its possible/likely.
You are most likely correct about not getting out to be mated.
Have you actually removed the charged queen cells ? If you have any new ones being built almost immediately would tend to suggest supercedure.

 

[Jonnyl]

Yes its possible/likely.
You are most likely correct about not getting out to be mated.
Have you actually removed the charged queen cells ? If you have any new ones being built almost immediately would tend to suggest supercedure.

No Murox, I let it be. Either way they will get what they want in time. I've buggered about enough and realise the best thing I can do is nothing atm. Oft times discretion is the better part of valour, or so I'm quickly learning in all things beekeeping. Or do you think I'm incorrect do leave it alone? Thanks in advance.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Me? I’d find the queen and dab her then take the QCs down
They will make more if they are serious

 

[Jonnyl]

Me? I’d find the queen and dab her then take the QCs down
They will make more if they are serious

There's a lot of bees in there and I'm not the best at spotting queens. I'm thinking if they want to supersede then let them. They're doing it for a reason after all. I'm not phased if they go ahead and replace her. Why would that be wrong?

 

[Erichalfbee]

There's a lot of bees in there and I'm not the best at spotting queens. I'm thinking if they want to supersede then let them. They're doing it for a reason after all. I'm not phased if they go ahead and replace her. Why would that be wrong?[/QUOTE
Not wrong but why are they thinking of superseding a prolific queen. I would be wondering.
I might be interested in looking in a couple of days later to see how many others they make.

 

[Jonnyl]

Yes, I intend to. Was in on thursday so I'll leave it a couple of days as its thundery here anyway and see what it looks like. They've been very busy this week and working hard so I'm heartened.

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

 

[eltalia]

Yes, I intend to. Was in on thursday so I'll leave it a couple of days as its thundery here anyway and see what it looks like. They've been very busy this week and working hard so I'm heartened.

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

/thumbs up/

Bill

 

[Jonnyl]

Update

Just to let you know, if interested, that I went back into the hive today and the cells were gone. A few empty play cups but no sealed cells. Hive festooned with eggs and bias with a very comely, compact brood pattern. Looks like the new queen has been very busy just like her mother. Thank goodness the bees know what they're doing. Thanks for your advice as always.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Just to let you know, if interested, that I went back into the hive today and the cells were gone. A few empty play cups but no sealed cells. Hive festooned with eggs and bias with a very comely, compact brood pattern. Looks like the new queen has been very busy just like her mother. Thank goodness the bees know what they're doing. Thanks for your advice as always.

 

[eltalia]

Just to let you know, if interested, that I went back into the hive today and the cells were gone. A few empty play cups but no sealed cells. Hive festooned with eggs and bias with a very comely, compact brood pattern. Looks like the new queen has been very busy just like her mother. Thank goodness the bees know what they're doing. Thanks for your advice as always.

Wooh00!

/eyes right/
.... seeee, philistines. Heh

Bill