Qeeen Cells in hive today

[Jeff Buzz]

Well checked them again today and cells capped over queen was in the pottering around in the middle of the two QC.

Thank you for all your responses made it about as clear as mud around 50/50 swish/not swish

As I have plenty of other colonies I will let this one take its course just to see what happens they have plenty of stocks to last through winter.
I have included a photo not very good but shows the cells and queen.

Thanks again

Jeff

 

[Jeff Buzz]

Thanks for help Sam I am in about the same position as you let see how it pans out.

Thanks for your help

Jeff

We had the same issue last week Jeff and ended up with 3 virgins in one of our colonies.

This time of year is not great so we can only really let the bees sort themselves out and plan to watch closely in the spring build up. If we can we then probably will need to requeen with eggs from another of our colonies early next year after locating and removing any queen or shaking out the colony to beat the DLW.

If the bees don't get through winter we will be a little surprised as they are a large colony now with most of the overwintering bees in the colony. It is an unfortunate set of circumstances but you just have to be vigilant and deal with what you find at the best time for the colony ...and now is most likely one of the worst times of year to be introducing change to the bees.

Still we have winter to prepare...

All the best,
Sam

 

[drstitson]

one of the perils of autumn inspections.

many thousands of colonies will try to supercede in september-october. some will be successful. some won't. beek only likely to find out come spring when they find either 2 queens or a single new unmarked queen.

so long as you have a laying queen (albeit possibly not 100%) let the bees do what they feel necessary to ensure their survival.

 

[richardbees]

Jeff

a bit like the good old "spot the ball" photos ....is she centre left?

Yes, leave them to it

 

[Jeff Buzz]

Jeff

a bit like the good old "spot the ball" photos ....is she centre left?

Yes, leave them to it

Well done you have won the Prize Richard yes level with left cell and slightly different colour to the rest a bit brighter on the tail.

 

[djg]

MandF,

I am still droning on here in SE1 in at least one hive (colony put to bed for winter a few weeks ago, then opened up for photos for local restaurant publicity shots on sunny Tuesday pm).

Larvae still in outer brood frames where I inspected, so relaxed about Q+ status of the hive. OK, plenty of stores, old brood hexagons filling up nicely...so why are the drones around this late?

 

[Jeff Buzz]

Update on this colony

Have checked a couple of times this year last inspection a week ago I found a Queen unmarked so gave her a white spot on her back. The hive has not grown much just 2 frames of very patchy brood in all stages with odd drones mixed in the worker cells along with a good number of drones in the hive.
Just had another look and found another queen unmarked along with the marked one on the other frame of brood.

So I think I have the old queen that is becoming infertile laying some workers along with drone in worker cells hence the bees knowing the old queen was failing.
A new queen is from the superceder last Autumn that I guess is un-mated so useless now.

What do I do...

I would like to combine the four frames of workers with another colony that is about 4ft away.

I guess I need to remove the 2 queens how best to get rid of the drones and can I use the brood that is in the hive??

All input very much appreciated.

Jeff