Queen breed does it matter?

[Mrsteve]

Probably a silly question but I captured a swarm on Monday(from my hive I believe following a few q cells emerging) and it would appear after looking today that it is queenless. If I was to introduce a new mated queen to this swarm does it matter what breed it is?
I have apis mellifera.
Thanks

 

[For want of a better word]

Probably a silly question but I captured a swarm on Monday(from my hive I believe following a few q cells emerging) and it would appear after looking today that it is queenless. If I was to introduce a new mated queen to this swarm does it matter what breed it is?
I have apis mellifera.
Thanks

I am not quite sure but I have not seen any suppliers offering anything other than Apis mellifera to beekeepers in the UK... but nothing would surprise me!

Chons da

 

[Ian123]

I really doubt your swarm is q-less and probably a virgin running around not yet mated. What cheers is saying is all honey bees are A Melifera it’s the bit after that denoting race

 

[Mrsteve]

Thanks, shows how much I know, so all honey bees are apis mellifera.
Yes I was surprised there was no queen, I will have another look just to confirm.
When I have looked at bee suppliers on internet they list a number of breeds eg buckfast etc so I am just a little confused.

 

[B+.]

Thanks, shows how much I know, so all honey bees are apis mellifera.
Yes I was surprised there was no queen, I will have another look just to confirm.
When I have looked at bee suppliers on internet they list a number of breeds eg buckfast etc so I am just a little confused.

Take a look at this part of the forum (https://beekeepingforum.co.uk/forumdisplay.php?f=44 ). Admin (Mark) has a thread describing the main sub-specis of Apis mellifera.
In the taxonomy of honeybees, there are Apis mellifera mellifera, Apis mellifera carnica, Apis mellifera ligustica, etc. You'll get the picture. It's the last bit that changes to denote the sub-species. Technically, Buckfast aren't a sub-species. They're a synthetic hybrid, a bit like an F1 flower

 

[Mrsteve]

Thanks for the link, very informative.
So I am guessing I will need to find out what type of bee I have before ordering a queen.

 

[Madge]

Mrsteve, don’t disturb your swarm for a week or so, and let them get on with establishing a new hive. Then have a look and see if they’re queenless or not.

 

[eltalia]

Thanks for the link, very informative.
So I am guessing I will need to find out what type of bee I have before ordering a queen.

Simply get the swarm set on the path to being a viable colony.
Requeening newly hived swarms with geneticly 'pure' queens
more often than does not work out well.
Give them at least three generations before changing 'brand name'.
Help?

Bill

 

[SDM]

I requeen all of mine after a week or two unless they appear to be something special.
Either she's an older queen with a high chance of failure or an unmated queen. Either way they're of questionable swarming intent( and around here usually more aggressive than I tolerate). I'd rather have a young mated queen of known quantity heading the colony

 

[Mrsteve]

If the colony is queenless will it not die off quite quickly. This was a rushed swarm capture with all new foundation. No drawn out comb or capped brood?

 

[Repwoc]

Give them at least three generations before changing 'brand name'.
Bill

I guess that Bill means 'brood cycles'.

 

[maddydog]

I requeen all of mine after a week or two unless they appear to be something special.
Either she's an older queen with a high chance of failure or an unmated queen. Either way they're of questionable swarming intent( and around here usually more aggressive than I tolerate). I'd rather have a young mated queen of known quantity heading the colony

Of the swarms I've caught this year I've allowed 2 to run their course. One was a large swarm headed by white dot - they offed her after a couple of weeks. The other were lovely bees that built up rapidly and swarmed again despite me taking a nuc off them.

 

[Repwoc]

Back to the original question - with a little care you can introduce a queen from any of the AMx subspecies (or Buckfast hybrid).

 

[coffindodger]

If the colony is queenless will it not die off quite quickly. This was a rushed swarm capture with all new foundation. No drawn out comb or capped brood?

If all new foundation, you are asking a bit much, queen or no queen. Can you put in some drawn frames? Are you feeding?
Maybe better to think of uniting rather than trying to kick start a colony.

 

[Mrsteve]

Thanks, that is what I wanted to know.

 

[Mrsteve]

I know it's not an ideal situation, but as a beginner with only 1 colony I have no extra drawn frames etc.
I was told that because the swarm was from my colony I can't combine it.

 

[coffindodger]

I know it's not an ideal situation, but as a beginner with only 1 colony I have no extra drawn frames etc.
I was told that because the swarm was from my colony I can't combine it.

You can combine. A lot depends on whether you have one or two queens. There are lots of arguments about this, but some people use a demaree or similar - normally used to prevent swarming, but can be used after the event.
I suggest a local mentor would be the greatest help to you
Is there anybody out there on the Wirral who could pop in and help MrsSteve?

 

[SDM]

I know it's not an ideal situation, but as a beginner with only 1 colony I have no extra drawn frames etc.
I was told that because the swarm was from my colony I can't combine it.

Unless I'm giving a frame of open brood to "fix" the swarm in place, I consider all foundation to be the perfect thing for swarms because they're great at drawing it.
You'll be worrying about laying workers long before you need to worry about them dying off. Just by not raising brood they'll live longer than usual.

 

[Repwoc]

I know it's not an ideal situation, but as a beginner with only 1 colony I have no extra drawn frames etc.
I was told that because the swarm was from my colony I can't combine it.

I hived a swarm a month ago and they have drawn two full brood boxes of foundation and have brood in most of it, so drawn comb isn't necessary.

Do you want to combine back to one colony, or keep them separate and have two going into winter?

 

[Murox]

As has been mentioned there is quite possibly a virgin queen in the swarm. As you have only foundation available I suggest you feed (after 3 days of capture) them sugar syrup regardless of any flow, it will help them to build comb.
Contact your local association , explain your circumstances and ask if somebody would donate a test frame, (thats a frame with eggs and open brood primarily) and also for a mentor. Then be patient.