Queenless for 3 months

[Horstead-BeeKeeper]

Hi, can anyone tell me the best way of killing off the remainder of my hive, as I want another nuc in the same hive,
Been queenless since March, have tried a new queen but they killed her,removed some of the frames with the hope of then dwindling down
Don't want to unite in case they kill the queen again,
any help appreciated, Thanks

 

[huntsman666]

As you're going to use it again shortly, don't try anything with petrol or the like.

I suggest as you seem to have only one colony that you take the roof off, remove the outer frames, spread the rest and leave alone. Start this at dusk as there'll be a lot of angry bees around.

If you are pretty close to neighbours, another method might be preferable.

 

[thedeaddiplomat]

If you have been queenless since March, where are your bees coming from? Average life expectancy in Summer +/- 6 weeks.

 

[victor meldrew]

If you have been queenless since March, where are your bees coming from? Average life expectancy in Summer +/- 6 weeks.

Live span increases when no brood is being reared

VM

 

[Erichalfbee]

Yes, like winter bees.

 

[jimbeekeeper]

Do you have an empty hive or will you be getting this new nuc in a nuc box?

If so, do the following.

Move current hive about 1 meter away.

Site new hive in original location.


Shake off all original hives bees away from new nuc.

They will either find their way to the new nuc (which should be stronger than them) or fly off and die else where.



If you do not have a spare box, you can still do the above, just move the hive away shake off bees, move hive back and install new nuc.

Best not to do this if close to neighbours.

 

[tonybloke]

is this the colony that swarmed on April 23rd?

 

[Skyhook]

Seems a shame. Surely the chances of a successful unite are better than for a re-queen?

 

[Flatters]

Is the nuc your only hive? Your profile states "none". If you have another hive why not reunite the current nuc bees with that using a QE and newspaper? If that colony is strong then the newcommers are unlikely to kill the queen. Then you can put your new bees in the nuc.

 

[the naked beekeeper]

Hi, can anyone tell me the best way of killing off the remainder of my hive, as I want another nuc in the same hive,
Been queenless since March, have tried a new queen but they killed her,removed some of the frames with the hope of then dwindling down
Don't want to unite in case they kill the queen again,
any help appreciated, Thanks

How did you introduce her?

Killing the bees is madness.

No organism whatsoever wants to die out.
It is hardwired in our DNA.

And if the colony is hopelessly queenless then they should accept one.

If you have had a queen killed then that sounds very bizarre to me indeed, but I would be inclined to put a Q+ colony on the same site and the bees of the old colony will simply join that one.

 

[davemacdon]

 

[Hebeegeebee]

It is highly unlikely that the remaining bees - if queenless - will kill another queen if you unite with newspaper.

 

[Horstead-BeeKeeper]

Queenless

I've a drone layer which I can't find all sealed cells are drones. I've just accuired a Nuc which is now in a different hive, I have another nuc on its way which is whyI want this one,

 

[the naked beekeeper]

Well that explains it.
You did not mention that in your OP.

If there is a drone layer, the bees think that they are Q+ and their loyalties are with her. Of course they will kill another queen.

If you cannot find her and despatch her, then when you get your nuc,
shake ALL the bees out several feet away. Put your nuc on the same spot.
The flying bees will return to the same site and find themselves Q+.
The drone layer will not be with them and will perish or be refused entry anyway.

 

[Skyhook]

I've a drone layer which I can't find all sealed cells are drones. I've just accuired a Nuc which is now in a different hive, I have another nuc on its way which is whyI want this one,

Ah- not queenless then. I would agree with TNB- treat as for a laying worker. When he says put the nuc on the same spot he means the original spot, not the same spot as where you tip them out.