Newbie from Cleveleys

[vampmeister]

I have just received my first nuc of Bee's and unfortunately about a dozen Bee's have died over the weekend and I wondered if this is normal, thankfully no more have died since and the Bee's seem to be healthy and very active.

 

[enrico]

If you are going to be worrying about half a dozen then you are going to lose lots of sleep! Old bees die off every day and the move may well have finished a few off. Look on the bright side, your bees are good at house cleaning and removing the dead.
Have you hived them yet!
Best of luck and keep smiling
E

 

[madasafish]

The average lifespan of a summer bee is 6 weeks. So 12 is a small number and only indicative of the death toll you don't see. After a while, the local sparrows snatch the dead ones outside the hives.. and you get lots more sparrows.

 

[Cussword]

As above, don't worry.

.

 

[Vortex]

I moved a Nuc last July on a hot evening, but didn't have a ventilated crown board available so had to leave the roof on. Lost 1/3 of the bees in the transport process (a trip of 20 minutes)..
Had to perform an AS on the colony this May so a few bees is not an issue.

 

[vampmeister]

newbie

Thank you for all your replies, it is much appreciated

 

[vampmeister]

New Hive

My Bee's seem to be very active but checking my hive today I am still unable to find the Queen, I have noticed about 6 or 7 queen cells on the frames and last night I found what I think is a dead Queen on the ground outside my hive. I have included a picture of the Bee and wondered if this is my Queen and if so what should I do to help the colony.

 

[chrisb]

do not worry if you dont see queen, she can have a habit of being there but not visible, eggs are a good indicator to her being there.
pictures can be deceiving, for me anyway hard to get idea of size etc from them. however that looks more like a drone to me, could be wrong queens have more of a long slim behind rather than a short fat behind.
I have had a few drones kicked out recently find them dead at front of hive.
are cells on the frames or under them? on frames supercedure cells hanging from bottom of frame swarm cells. overall if empty just could be play cups

 

[chrisb]

do you know if your queen is marked?

 

[masterBK]

Thats a queen honeybee in the photo. I think you need someone local to come and help you sort it out now. Contact local BKA

 

[BeeJayBee]

Thats a queen honeybee in the photo. I think you need someone local to come and help you sort it out now. Contact local BKA

Get in touch with somebody from your local association and ask if they can help you go through the hive.

Did you buy the colony from another beekeeper or from a commercial outfit?

 

[vampmeister]

I bought my Bee's from a commercial breeder

 

[vampmeister]

The cells seem to be on the frame and a couple are underneath, I have noticed today that some of the bees have opened one of the cells and there is a pure white bee larva inside, I will upload a picture.

 

[vampmeister]

The company I bought the nuc from have said the bee was marked but I am unable to find her and the Queen I found has no mark on her.

 

[chrisb]

The company I bought the nuc from have said the bee was marked but I am unable to find her and the Queen I found has no mark on her.

Ah, thats why asked. if from a good reputable source if they say marked id think she would defo be marked.
blue for last years white if this years.

i have one where queen not seen for two inspections and before allways seen her, she a 16 so big white head, driving me mad even though i can see 4 - 5 day old larva so i know she been in there laying it dont help.
I have given up on seeing eggs my eye sight is to shot these days ! need something to help, larvae just about cope

 

[vampmeister]

Thank you for your advice and I will keep checking for her, I know the bee's have opened a Queen cell and the larvae is pure white and not developed, so I assume there must be a Queen in the hive. I have included a photo of the larvae and bees and would be very grateful for any advice you can give me, thank you. I hope the picture has uploaded and you can see it.

 

[vampmeister]

Queen cell

I have still not seen my Queen but i have noticed that the bees have opened a queen cell to reveal a large white larvae.

 

[Brigsy]

The pictures haven't uploaded so I can't see what you mean. Did you take the advice given and speak to a local association or seek help? What have they said?

 

[Brigsy]

Also, have you had a look at this document before? It has helped me.

http://www.wbka.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/There-Are-Queen-Cells-In-My-Hive-WBKA-WAG.pdf

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

that looks more like a drone to me

Looks nothing at all like a drone, although not that good looking a queen either - zoom right in and you can see what looks like the odd fleck of white paint though.
Just because the queen in the photo is not marked doesn't mean it's not the one supplied with the hive - bees have a habit of cleaning off the paint. Had at least two this year, well marked but now without a scrap of a mark left.

My feeling is she's gone and the cells are emergency queen cells - you need someone to have a look with you ASAP.