Queen Introduction

[Brian Bush]

I have always removed the attendant bees when introducing a queen to a new NUC. I was party to a discussion the other day that a beekeeper said that he never removed the attendants. Others said they did.
I then read that it was always advisable to remove attendants and in another publication it was not necessary.
Removal of attendants I always find a difficult chore. Is it really necessary What are the considered views on the forum?

 

[Anduril]

I've never removed the attendants, too much of a faff.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I've never removed the attendants

 

[Bazzer]

I don't take out the attendants but usually wait a day before removing the tab so should have the same scent anyhow

 

[Ian123]

I remove attendants as a rule…

 

[Newbeeneil]

I have never removed them.

 

[Swarm]

Heh

 

[steve1958]

No I have never removed the attendants either.
I try to handle the cage as little as possible

 

[Mabee]

I always remove them.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Always leave them in. Even if the queen goes under a push in cage her mates go with her.

 

[jeff33]

I don't either.

 

[Newbeeneil]

From what has been said already I assume it makes sweet FA difference which you do!

 

[Anduril]

From what has been said already I assume it makes sweet FA difference which you do!

How many discard the queen and introduce the workers

 

[Antipodes]

Some experimentation has been done by Wyatt Magnum ...following other work of McCutcheon (2001).

https://bluetoad.com/publication/?i=662572&article_id=3691621&view=articleBrowser
Also, see here under "Alone or with Attendants"
https://theapiarist.org/queen-introduction/#easy-footnote-bottom-15-12673

 

[Erichalfbee]

To complicate matters you can remove a queen and put a new laying queen in without cage or attendants

 

[jeff33]

To complicate matters you can remove a queen and put a new laying queen in without cage or attendants

Only if she hasn't stopped laying though, i.e: removed from a nuc and transferred straight into another hive.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

or if she's a virgin

 

[Erichalfbee]

Only if she hasn't stopped laying though, i.e: removed from a nuc and transferred straight into another hive.

Yes big difference between a laying queen and a posted queen

 

[jeff33]

or if she's a virgin What would be the prime time for this, within a few days of being queenless hoping they tear down emergency Qcs?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

or if she's a virgin What would be the prime time for this, within a few days of being queenless hoping they tear down emergency Qcs?

Never tried it, but I suppose if there are QCs the virgin would sort them anyway