Self destruct!

[simon kerr]

The weather was good for an inspection today, one hive building well with a good amount of brood and stores, the second hive is now queenless, she was there last week, now gone!! There was plenty of room and she seemed to be laying well, I have heard of some early swarms, talk about self destruction, why would they swarm so early, if it was a swarm?

 

[Tom Bick]

Any eggs in the 2nd colony?

If they have swarmed or she befell with an accident on the last inspection you will have queen cells did you see any?

 

[simon kerr]

There were no eggs, and two queen cells which I pulled down before realising it was queenless......beginners mistake! I am planning to check them again at the end of the week to see how they are getting on.
Any advice welcomed!!!

 

[Mike a]

Take a frame with eggs and larvae and pop in it the queenless hive as soon as possible then check for queen cells in 4-5 days.

 

[Tom Bick]

Yes test frame.

Take a frame from your first hive with eggs on it brush the bees off and swap it for a frame from your 2nd hive. The bees will if queen less will drawer out queen cells and then your hive will be back on track but will have a big break in brood rearing.

4 or 5 days after the test frame inspect the hive and look at all if any queen cells. I say any as it is possible you spotted the cells before the hive swarmed if this is what we are talking about, the bees reduce feeding the queen to slim her down so she can fly and as a result can stop laying or reduce down to a few eggs and the hive can look queen less so double look for a queen.

If you are confident it is queen less and they have drawn out queen cells select the best looking cell and remove the others. Then close the hive and leave alone for 4 weeks and be very happy when you see plenty of pollen going into the hive.

Good look Simon

 

[simon kerr]

Tom, Mike, many thanks for your help, suggestions I will get that done tomorrow, weather permitting. Not so worried now

 

[Tom Bick]

lol many more sleepless nights ahead

 

[BKF Admin]

Thats why its always a good idea to run two hives rather than one..

 

[melon]

A friend of mine had an eggless colony, but the bees didn't build any queen cells on test frame and the queen was still present, but was failing to lay. She has taken another frame of eggs today, having caught and trapped the queen. She is going to have to destroy or remove the queen and add the next test frame.
Just be aware that queens sometimes fail even though they are still present.

 

[Silly Bee]

A frame of eggs will sometimes prompt a new queen to lay.


Was it a new queen?

 

[oliver90owner]

Just to add to Tom's post.

He says: select the best looking cell and remove the others

If selecting a single cell choose an open one - you know it has a larva in it, it will be less likely to be a 3 day old larva chosen as an emergency cell, and finally you are less likely to spoil the cell c/f a recently capped one, that is very fragile.

If selecting a capped cell, select two is the usual advice (small risk of a cast swarm, but only one, if it happens) - but in your case you still have a back-up colony for a further try, if initially unsuccessful.

Personally I would check quietly for an empty cell (particularly if only one capped cell is left) about three days after expected emergence and then leave 3 weeks at least. That would be before she would be mating and save a further 3 weeks if a dud cell. Any further checks (if really necesary) should only be carried out when she would not be on a mating flight and beware - she can fly - if you do open up!

So, you can see there is just a little more to consider, than simply picking a good looking cell and waiting 4 weeks.

Regards, RAB

 

[melon]

No, apparently it was a queen from last year, who has been laying OK, before winter.

 

[Tom Bick]

I quite agree rab I was going to mention open over closed cell but took the assumption that if they produce more cells they will all be open but it is a good point all the same.

I also took the assumption that Simon had not missed any advanced cells in the hive something we all can do.

 

[The Riviera Kid]

I had a problem last year with a queen who was present, but dud so there was little/no egg laying and the hive fell into chaos with a greatly diminished population while I fumbled and fretted as to what to do about it.

In the end I got a very experienced bee keeper to come look at the colony and clarified the position so I was no longer second guessing with my inexperience as to what was happening.

I would heartily recommend that you resolve what is wrong as quickly as possible and not dilly dally like I did as it made things far worse in the longer term!!

Take heart that I replaced my queen and all is now well again after the winter