Sealed QCs today

[Queen Brenda]

Bought a new red queen and in residence since 8/5/14. We added her to a Q- small colony and have been building it up, albeit slowly since then.

At inspection today, found lots of sealed brood, no eggs, no Queen. Actually we have not seen her for some weeks but at last inspection 24/814 saw eggs in a nice pattern. We have been feeding 2:1 syrup as low stores since 19th. However, today we found 4 sealed queen cells, one centrally in the bottom 3rd of the frame, the other two higher and nearer the outside.

We were intending to overwinter this colony on brood box only and will continue to feed syrup then fondant and do lots of hefting and are hoping not to have to amalgamate 2 colonies unless necessary. Also, will be doing varroa treatment soon (any ideas when is best?) and have got Apiguard and Maqs in stock at home.

Long preamble, sorry. Question is, presumably I leave the bees to sort themselves out with queens? My husband was all for destroying all but one but I wanted to leave them to it. Any ideas? We've still got lots of drones around and some sealed drone brood in another hive, so she'll have some boyfriends.

 

[Laz]

I thought this is a Green year, is/was your queen "new"?

 

[Queen Brenda]

No, she was born in 2013.

 

[Laz]

No, she was born in 2013.

 

[jd101k2000]

That's a relief. We have black bees here... I thought that a red queen might be a strain, like carniolian or something.

At this end of the season, I would have thought that swarming was at a minimum. So, the queen that comes out first should finish off the others. I would not have thought that you would be dealing with cast swarms.

I would be tempted to let the bees sort it out. On the other hand, you are going to be at least three weeks before the new queen starts laying. Is she going to lay enough eggs to make bees for the winter? I would think not. That would suggest amalgamating this colony with another.

Let's see what the others say.

 

[REDWOOD]

Type of queen cells would be good to know. Don't treat for varroa (yet)
http://www.wbka.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/There-Are-Queen-Cells-In-My-Hive-WBKA-WAG.pdf

 

[Queen Brenda]

Yikes, Redwood, i don't think I know the difference between types of QC. As I said, fairly central on frame and towards the bottom of the frame for the main one. It's podgy and pendulous. There are a couple of others, on different frames, all nearer the tops. Also lots of playcups along the bottom rails. Could you explain the difference betweem QCs?

 

[Queen Brenda]

Knee-jerk reply. Now I see the link. Thank you.

 

[TryingToLetThemBee]

Don't expect to form a clear distinction in your own mind between emergency, swarm and supersedure; we beginners cannot expect it to be obvious. But I think the conclusion is the same in September; leave them to it. I had two "increase" colonies I knocked back to the Chosen One and one made a Q, the other didn't. In the one that did, I took out a supersedure cell yesterday in light of a huge number of eggs but they may insist, in which case I Chose the One wrongly. So as I try one last time (for learning as much as anything), I am going to leave them to it and if they raise some marginal 3-day larva that beats the others to the punch, well then I'll learn more. If you're feeling aggressive and have the bees, you could split the cells but I'm not suggesting it.

PS: my strongest colony is making LARGE numbers of drones. I think it is going to be a long season for late mating here on Heat Island, where we both are. Lots of food around in the ivy too.

 

[Queen Brenda]

Queen hatched

Ok, so Friday 12th I find the Queen open, although I didn't see her as I closed up quick. The weather is good and drones around in my other 2 hives. Question now is, is there time for her to get laying (assuming she mates ok) and lay enough eggs to provide a large enough colony to overwinter, bearing in mind the layrate goes down soon, no? Presumably, workers who are alive and well and working now, 14/9/14, will die before winter. How can the new queen lay enough eggs in time for a viable colony? I know I can always merge 2 colonies and this is what I would do if mating unsuccessful.

I's still waiting to treat for varroa as worried I will put her off her lay at a crucial time in the autumn. I have Maq and apiguard - which causes less upset to laying and least deaths?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I'd put nothing on until after she's mated and laying

 

[Hivemaker.]

I'd put nothing on until after she's mated and laying

And then use one treatment of oxalic, trickled or preferably sublimated, before there is any sealed brood.

 

[sharonh]

I'd put nothing on until after she's mated and laying

Agree,
Wait. Can do oxalic around Christmas time.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Personally I'd wait, but HM is correct - no sealed brood so a good time to blast them with some oxalic

 

[TryingToLetThemBee]

With 2 other colonies you could possibly lend them a frame of brood if you're worried about viability but want to hold out for a few weeks without uniting, to see if they can get their Q mated.

 

[Queen Brenda]

Yes, lending a frame of brood, I hadn't thought of that.

However, it's later, after she starts laying, I was more worried about. I'm not sure when they stop laying for the winter (?) and was worried about the timing - if she leaves it too late to lay enough to populate the whole colony for the whole winter.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I'm not sure when they stop laying for the winter

They probably won't stop - especially where you are (I've heard that swamp climates tend to be rather temperate)

 

[TryingToLetThemBee]

Yes, lending a frame of brood, I hadn't thought of that.



However, it's later, after she starts laying, I was more worried about. I'm not sure when they stop laying for the winter (?) and was worried about the timing - if she leaves it too late to lay enough to populate the whole colony for the whole winter.

Hivemaker (search for his posts) just posted that a Q and a cupful of bees can winter...

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Hivemaker (search for his posts) just posted that a Q and a cupful of bees can winter...

............in a mating hive.

 

[Queen Brenda]

Aha. Well I shall relax a. It then. Thank you everyone.