Should you reduce emergency cells to one at this time of year?

[BeeKeyPlayer]

I have a colony that is suddenly queenless. Should I reduce the emergency cells to one at this time of year? There are about 20 cells.

This is in a big colony which lost their new queen when I picked her up to mark her, and two bees clung to her and stung her. (After that happened to me, I saw Randy Oliver mention it on a video from the National Honey Show.) This queen was still alive and pulsating 30 minutes later but was gone the next day. And the other thing about the present situation here is that the flowers are fading, and the drones, though numerous, are starting to look weak - or so it seems to me.)

 

[ericbeaumont]

Ingredients suggest to leave them to it, but there is no right or wrong answer.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

always reduce, they may have made them because they lost the queen, but it doesn't mean they won't take the opportunity to swarm with the first virgin out.

 

[BeeKeyPlayer]

there is no right or wrong answer.

so glad to hear you say that