Queen rescued from balling

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Joined
Jul 26, 2015
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Location
Fermanagh
Hive Type
National
Double brood box swarm control split early May then recombined. Weekly inspections mid May showed eggs and the marked/clipped Q present. Weekly insp since showed bees in all stages but no record of the Q (although I did not search). On a routine weekly inspection today 25/6 all looked OK, bees in all stages but I spotted an unmarked/unclipped Q on a frame with eggs. Marked/clipped Q not seen since recombination.
I removed the unmarked Q to a cage and marked/clipped her, assuming marked Q had been lost. I cannot understand how she got there ( no signs of an old open Hatched Q cell).
On putting the open Q cage on top of the brood frames, she was harassed by aggressive workers. I managed to rescue her and she is now in an incubator recovering and seems chirpy again in a sealed Q cage blocked with fondant. I cannot decide how to proceed. Try returning the caged Q tomorrow? Or put the caged Q into a nuc and see how the double brood colony develops. Mmmmmm…..
 
Makes me wonder if this is a supersedure and 2 queens were present, then they objected to her once disturbed.
I think I'd put her in a nuc, see what the hive does & maybe recombine later
 
Makes me wonder if this is a supersedure and 2 queens were present, then they objected to her once disturbed.
I think I'd put her in a nuc, see what the hive does & maybe recombine later
I will let you know what happens. I had not considered supercedure. I have Apideas mating/mated in the apiary. Could entry by an absconding Q be a possible explanation?
 
Double brood box swarm control split early May then recombined. Weekly inspections mid May showed eggs and the marked/clipped Q present. Weekly insp since showed bees in all stages but no record of the Q (although I did not search). On a routine weekly inspection today 25/6 all looked OK, bees in all stages but I spotted an unmarked/unclipped Q on a frame with eggs. Marked/clipped Q not seen since recombination.
I removed the unmarked Q to a cage and marked/clipped her, assuming marked Q had been lost. I cannot understand how she got there ( no signs of an old open Hatched Q cell).
On putting the open Q cage on top of the brood frames, she was harassed by aggressive workers. I managed to rescue her and she is now in an incubator recovering and seems chirpy again in a sealed Q cage blocked with fondant. I cannot decide how to proceed. Try returning the caged Q tomorrow? Or put the caged Q into a nuc and see how the double brood colony develops. Mmmmmm…..
I've rarely had much luck reintroducing a queen (after rescue) once they've been balled. Perhaps once or twice if put in a small nuc. I'll be interested to hear how you get on (y)
 
Dunk her in honey and make sure she is well covered , pop her on the top bars. She will be accepted.

Might she have entered the wrong colony ?
Or on has missed a QC or a secreted away QC esp against the sdie bars.
 

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