Queenless Hive

[MrDBee]

Hi all,

I have just been given 2 colonies to look after for a friend who is going to the US for 6 months.

On checking, prior to transport, 1 of the colonies has no Queen, no Brood (eggs, larvae, unsealed or sealed), no QC, but 5 frames of stores, and 5 frames covered with bees. The inspection was at 13:00 so there are many more flying bees to return, as the were returning with pollen & nectar in force.

Clive, after mumbling for a minute or two, admitted he hadn't checked the colonies for what we worked out to be 20 days and there had been QC's which he destroyed.

They are his only 2 colonies and he wants me to see if I can 'revive' this one.

As I only have 2 colonies myself and I don't want to mess with them, what should I do? My thought was to try and find a mated Queen and introduce her asap.

Thx in advance for replies.

DBee

 

[Hivemaker.]

Place a test comb in to see if queenless.

 

[Mike a]

I'd start with a test frame "A frame with eggs" and check again in 3-4 days to see if they have started making any queen cells before trying to introduce a known good queen.

 

[MrDBee]

Thx for the responses.

So I take a frame with eggs, shake off all bees and transfer frame with no bees to Queenless hive.

If they start making QC's do I re-queen then?

That's assuming I can get a Queen.

DBee

 

[RosieMc]

Thx for the responses.

So I take a frame with eggs, shake off all bees and transfer frame with no bees to Queenless hive.

If they start making QC's do I re-queen then?


That's assuming I can get a Queen.

DBee

If queenless, the bees should start to make their own queen on the test frame. Check and see in a few days time.

 

[drstitson]

likely have a virgin queen there who is in process of making mating flights.

no harm from adding test frame - maybe sensible as queen may get lost when flying after the move!!

 

[TOBY-3652]

I did just that... Added a test frame 2 a hive that was nasty and no eggs seen for weeks.. This was on sunday ilooked today and //// all the eggs have been fed no queen cell what so ever so must be a queen of some sort but still follow me will wait to see what happens

 

[oliver90owner]

so must be a queen of some sort

Not necessarily so. The only definitive result from a test frame is Q-.

RAB

 

[MrDBee]

I've put a test frame in and have found 3 QC.

I guess they were Q-.

If I get a new Q should I introduce her with the test frame in, or remove it?

Thx

 

[Hivemaker.]

Leave it in,but shake all the bees off and make sure you remove every emergency queen cell,always best to introduce a new queen next to a frame of brood if possible.

 

[TOBY-3652]

Checked hive 2day that i thaught was queen less and 12 queen cells on test frame,, united with one next to it