Queenless

[Charlie19]

I inspected both my hives today for the fist time this year. I noticed one hive is a little more active than the other but I didnt think much of it. When going through the slightly quieter hive I noticed that there isn't a single egg/larvae/capped brood. Neither is there any drones so no laying workers. There hasn't been any unusual activity, no odd noise, no roar. There's plenty of bees in there. Hopefully I'll be able to get a mated queen asap. There was a couple of old looking broken queen cells on one frame. Could there be a virgin queen in the hive?

 

[Erichalfbee]

No brood whatsoever means there hasn't been a queen in there for three weeks.
I would bet there isn't a virgin queen either.
Quite a few colonies come through the winter queen less.

The bees in the colony would be quite old and not up to much apart from foraging what there is until they die.
Might be an idea to shake them out in front of your other hive on a warm day.............or combine.

 

[drstitson]

as above - merge with other colony(s) either directly or by shaking out in front.
no point wasting money on a queen at this time of year. better boosting a strong colony.

 

[Hivemaker.]

There was a couple of old looking broken queen cells on one frame. Could there be a virgin queen in the hive?

Very likely, yes, i found one like this only yesterday, removed the virgin and introduced a new mated queen.
Put in a test comb if you cannot see a virgin.

 

[Bosleeu]

There could.

Might be worth putting a test frame in if you can spare one. If they don't draw queencells there is likely to be a queen in there somewhere. (Virgin, dud or a sound one not laying for a reason.)Laying workers unlikely but not impossible.

It is important to confirm queenlessness before introducing another one, as the bees will not accept one if they have another, even if it's a dud.

 

[Bosleeu]

Very likely, yes, i found one like this only yesterday, removed the virgin and introduced a new mated queen.
Put in a test comb if you cannot see a virgin.

Sorry - had my tea halfway through typing this and saw this has already been posted.

 

[Erichalfbee]

OK.....Hivemaker or usually right. Ignore my reply but let us know what the outcome is.Please.

 

[Charlie19]

Thanks for the replies. I tried my best to find a queen today but that's probably not a good indicator as I'm useless at spotting a queen. I'll try and get hold of a mated queen asap. (If anyone knows where I can get one in or around London that would be great).

 

[Erichalfbee]

Thanks for the replies. I tried my best to find a queen today but that's probably not a good indicator as I'm useless at spotting a queen. I'll try and get hold of a mated queen asap. (If anyone knows where I can get one in or around London that would be great).

No. No mated queen. Test frame first.if your other colony can't spare a whole frame just cut out a few square inches of eggs

 

[Queen Brenda]

Charlie, I. Have sent you a private message about your local beekeeping ass. Maybe you already know of it?

 

[Charlie19]

yes. I'll put in a frame tomorrow. If they do build queen cells should I leave them to it or go for a mated queen?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

yes. I'll put in a frame tomorrow. If they do build queen cells should I leave them to it or go for a mated queen?

I would knock them all down and go for a mated queen if you can find one - time is against you ATM so the sooner you get fresh brood in there the better

 

[Charlie19]

I had a look in the hive today. No queen cells drawn and neither any sign of a queen in the hive. Id like to join this colony with my other but I've noticed bees with chronic bee paralysis virus. Will this spread to my healthy colony if I join them or does it have something to do with them being queenless?

 

[masterBK]

Never good practise to unite diseased bees with healthy ones. Having said that the CP virus is widespread but only bees genetically susceptible show signs of the disease. The different syndromes are all due to same virus but the genetic makeup of the bee seems to determine which syndrome 1 or 2 they show. Spread via broken setae (bristles) from bees bumping into one another within the hive.