Queenless cluster?

[LeaBees]

A question for the more experienced forum members. Do queenless bees cluster ? Specifically, if a small queenless hive is shaken out of their box in an apiary, will they prefer to cluster together somewhere over begging entrance to a nearby hive?
Thanks

 

[Boston Bees]

A question for the more experienced forum members. Do queenless bees cluster ? Specifically, if a small queenless hive is shaken out of their box in an apiary, will they prefer to cluster together somewhere over begging entrance to a nearby hive?
Thanks

If they are determinedly clustering then I would suspect there's a queen in there. At least, that has been the case when I have seen this happen. Might be worth hiving that cluster on a frame of drawn comb, and taking a closer look.

What made you think they were queenless?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

they do sometimes cluster in small groups

 

[Ian123]

Queenless bees will cluster.

 

[user 819]

Collected a small swarm Tuesday in a correx nuc box, assumed Q was inside as bees fanning for stragglers. Wednesday a.m transferred to a wooden nuc dummied down and no sign of Q anywhere, barely more then 2 B.S frames of bees.

 

[LeaBees]

If they are determinedly clustering then I would suspect there's a queen in there. At least, that has been the case when I have seen this happen. Might be worth hiving that cluster on a frame of drawn comb, and taking a closer look.

What made you think they were queenless?

They were from a small nuc from a split which “presented” as queenless. No eggs/brood. Test frame though did not create queen cells when introduced and no eggs/brood even after 2weeks. Been over 5weeks waiting for sign of queen. Shook out bees (was a small hive) late one evening expecting they’d head for neighboring hives. They clustered and we still there overnight and I was going to unite them with another colony. Took @Boston Bees advice before I did that tonight and knock me down with a feather but there was a queen! To my beginner eyes she looks like she could be mated as she looks just like my laying queen. Massive thanks to @Boston Bees - you saved me a bunch of trouble!

Only trouble is it is a small colony. Do they have time to build up to survive winter or is there something you would suggest?
Cheers

 

[Swarm]

Dummy them down to a nice size and a little feed to help them build. It's early yet but when they have sufficient numbers to tend brood, a comb of sealed/emerging brood from another colony will help.
Good luck.

 

[Beegarden]

They were from a small nuc from a split which “presented” as queenless. No eggs/brood. Test frame though did not create queen cells when introduced and no eggs/brood even after 2weeks. Been over 5weeks waiting for sign of queen. Shook out bees (was a small hive) late one evening expecting they’d head for neighboring hives. They clustered and we still there overnight and I was going to unite them with another colony. Took @Boston Bees advice before I did that tonight and knock me down with a feather but there was a queen! To my beginner eyes she looks like she could be mated as she looks just like my laying queen. Massive thanks to @Boston Bees - you saved me a bunch of trouble!
View attachment 26008
Only trouble is it is a small colony. Do they have time to build up to survive winter or is there something you would suggest?
Cheers

Great stuff! Did you mark her whilst you had the chance?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Great stuff! Did you mark her whilst you had the chance?

Would have been handy - sounds to me as she may be a dud so easier to find her to squish her and shake them out again.

 

[LeaBees]

Great stuff! Did you mark her whilst you had the chance?

Unfort did not have any of the kit with me... next time..