Queen got trapped!

[GBov]

Just opened up our second hive due to thinking something was wrong and yep, it was! The queen was trapped between the excluder and a beetle trap. Judging by the fact there were no eggs or any uncapped - and darned little of that - brood cells, she had been trapped for quite some time.

She looked alright when we freed her but should we just assume she is damaged and replace her?

 

[m100]

What's a queen excluder doing being positioned adjacent to a beetle trap?

 

[victor meldrew]

Just opened up our second hive due to thinking something was wrong and yep, it was! The queen was trapped between the excluder and a beetle trap. Judging by the fact there were no eggs or any uncapped - and darned little of that - brood cells, she had been trapped for quite some time.

She looked alright when we freed her but should we just assume she is damaged and replace her?

What's a beetle trap ?
No requirement in the UK Yet

VM

 

[North West Bees]

Just opened up our second hive due to thinking something was wrong and yep, it was! The queen was trapped between the excluder and a beetle trap. Judging by the fact there were no eggs or any uncapped - and darned little of that - brood cells, she had been trapped for quite some time.

She looked alright when we freed her but should we just assume she is damaged and replace her?

The bees will tell you if she is damaged by building Queen cells

 

[psafloyd]

What's a beetle trap ?
No requirement in the UK Yet

VM

I do hope they do not turn out to be famous last words, VM...

 

[GBov]

The small hive beetle trap is one of the ones that rests on top of the frames, just below the excluder. It looks like they were trying to put some comb on it and she wedged herself in trying to lay in it.

We have two kinds of beetle traps, two on top and one large one built into the bottom of the hive. Both of them catch the beetles and wax moth larva that get into the hives. So far, so good on keeping the numbers small.

We will take another look tomorrow to see how she is doing but the numbers are way WAY down! Should we take a frame of brood from the other hive to help get numbers up?

 

[m100]

The small hive beetle trap is one of the ones that rests on top of the frames, just below the excluder.

Has anyone who thinks up these things even heard about bee space?

The traps supplied by FERA for use at designated apiaries here in the UK (near to ports, airports, fruit distribution depots) are placed on the floor.

 

[Skyhook]

I would give it a few days, then look for eggs again.

 

[victor meldrew]

I do hope they do not turn out to be famous last words, VM...

Aye!. I never thought varroa would arrive on our shores !
VM