Queens off lay?

[beeno]

Absconded - it's obvious to the bees that building a colony in such a small boxm is impossible so they've gone to find somewhere more suitable. No mystery there.

Well, not really a viably sized 'colony' to do anything but dwindle or find a -Q colony on the off chance!

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Well they don't know that do they - but they can quickly sense there's no more room to expand. Ever the optimists they would look for larger accommodation - it's what bees do

 

[Hivemaker.]

An Apidea is a real challenge. Mine swarmed leaving eggs behind. Can someone tell me what they think they were doing?

Often few will abscond, usually when there are a few too many bees and there is a hot spell of weather, also more often if the box is situated in full sunlight.

 

[beeno]

Thanks for an informed reply. On this occasion I shall have to go for a spot of lovely weather.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Often few will abscond, usually when there are a few too many bees and there is a hot spell of weather, also more often if the box is situated in full sunlight.

A small colony, might you consider that the bees could just jump ship into another hive?

 

[Hivemaker.]

A small colony, might you consider that the bees could just jump ship into another hive?

Usually if you find them it is about 30ft up hanging on the end of a branch of a tree.

 

[bpmurray]

I just checked the hives and the situation is that one probably has flown the nest, although there were a few unsealed larvae but no eggs.

However, the other hive was busting with happy bees - calm and working hard. There were four full frames of eggs, lying down & standing up, so she's definitely still there and laying like crazy. So I'm wondering how to explain the fact that there were no eggs last week.

Anyway, this hive also had three charged QC's on the top of one frame. I would normally have thought that these would be supersedure cells, but I don't know. I think the time has definitely come for a split, but I haven't found the queen. I suppose a walk-away split might work, but it's probably a good idea to mark & clip her anyway.

 

[foghornleghorn]

I just checked the hives and the situation is that one probably has flown the nest, although there were a few unsealed larvae but no eggs.

However, the other hive was busting with happy bees - calm and working hard. There were four full frames of eggs, lying down & standing up, so she's definitely still there and laying like crazy. So I'm wondering how to explain the fact that there were no eggs last week.

Anyway, this hive also had three charged QC's on the top of one frame. I would normally have thought that these would be supersedure cells, but I don't know. I think the time has definitely come for a split, but I haven't found the queen. I suppose a walk-away split might work, but it's probably a good idea to mark & clip her anyway.

Would you be as well to do an AS with eggs instead of queen. If it is supersedure and your old queen dies off you'll still have a queen and can reunite. Splitting wont always stop desire to swarm

 

[Finman]

to murray.

The queen may have become sick. It stopped laying and may be dead now. Or walking with her fat buts in the hive, but nothing comes out.

Queen cells are easy to see. So not swarmed. I bet that the queen became sick.

Nosema perhaps? Do not join it to good hive.

 

[bpmurray]

to murray.

The queen may have become sick. It stopped laying and may be dead now. Or walking with her fat buts in the hive, but nothing comes out.

Queen cells are easy to see. So not swarmed. I bet that the queen became sick.

Nosema perhaps? Do not join it to good hive.

I suppose it's possible she's sick, but she's laying really, really well (four full frames in 6 days) and there were vertical eggs, so she was laying this morning. Also, I did a microscopy course a couple of months ago and there was no nosema in my bees although it's possible she has caught it. Anyway, I'll go back up & annoy them again - I'm guessing they won't be as placid this time. I'll find her and split with her and some eggs in one half, and the QC's and more eggs in the other. Both hives should actually be quite strong, so I'll keep an eye on them.

I'll keep all three QC's and once they're sealed, I'll take the other two away to apideas.

And I'll steal a frame of brood for the other hive, just in case.

 

[Finman]

There were four full frames of eggs, lying down & standing up, so she's definitely still there and laying like crazy. So I'm wondering how to explain the fact that there were no eggs last week.

Anyway, this hive also had three charged QC's .

I did not read carefully

The fact is that hive did not get pollen outdoors because weathers were bad. Temps rose in UK, and bees could fly.

3 Queen cells.. You are going to have a swarm!

 

[bpmurray]

3 Queen cells.. You are going to have a swarm!

Well, I've split the hive, although I didn't see the queen. I checked the upper brood box twice so I'm fairly confident that she wasn't in that, and I put the QC's in with this half.

I'll check in a couple of days to see if either half has built more QC's.

 

[Fatbee]

You've got a 50:50 chance I'm afraid. Queen usually found on frames with eggs so if those frames are in with with QCs your chance of still losing a swarm does increase.

 

[Finman]

You've got a 50:50 chance I'm afraid. Queen usually found on frames with eggs so if those frames are in with with QCs your chance of still losing a swarm does increase.

Ridiculous bet! Just like that.

In Finland we have famous 50:60 bet...

.

 

[beeno]

Good news Murray,
So one mystery to go? You did not find any QCs on that one, so in theory she should still be there. Keep the forum posted pls.