Tooting Queen?

[Moobee]

I was around my hive the day before yesterday and I think I heard my queen tooting! It sounded like someone playing a teeny weeny trumpet inside.
My last inspection was on Sunday and no signs of any queen cells, just some old unused play cups from earlier in the summer.
(The colony is strong, egg laying has reduced but I still had 6 full frames of brood in all stages and loads of stores. I haven't started treatment yet on advice of mentor as the colony is still foraging on a lot of flowering plants locally.)
What does this mean? Have I missed something?

 

[Murox]

I think you missed some queen cells a while ago.

 

[Moobee]

I think you missed some queen cells a while ago.

I am fairly sure I didn't miss any...... so it's likely even though I still have brood in all stages, ie original queen is still there? so if new queen is there, will she kill old one? is it too late for a mating flight?

 

[user 819]

Superscedure may be in progress and as we have seen and some have experienced the odd QC can be almost impossible to spot.

 

[Moobee]

Superscedure may be in progress and as we have seen and some have experienced the odd QC can be almost impossible to spot.

wow that's exciting and interesting if so as my first colony has been pretty strong - I went to brood and a half to stop them swarming (successfully I might add) and they've produced a good amount of honey for only 3 months production. I'm inspecting on Sunday so guess I will find out for sure...

 

[Erichalfbee]

Superscedure may be in progress and as we have seen and some have experienced the odd QC can be almost impossible to spot.

Yes. The only way to be sure is to shake every bee off every frame. How many of us do that?

 

[MerryBee]

I'm inspecting on Sunday so guess I will find out for sure...

What do you hope to achieve by an inspection on Sunday.? You probably wont "find out out for sure", unless you are very lucky and see 2 queens.
If a supersedure is in progress you could easily do more harm than good. Virgin queens can be flighty. Best just to leave them alone to get on with it.

 

[Antipodes]

Have a listen with your ear pressed to the side of the hive. You can sometimes hear multiple queens tooting as the pitches can be different. A little tap on the side can start them tooting.

 

[Moobee]

What do you hope to achieve by an inspection on Sunday.? You probably wont "find out out for sure", unless you are very lucky and see 2 queens.
If a supersedure is in progress you could easily do more harm than good. Virgin queens can be flighty. Best just to leave them alone to get on with it.

Well that was my next inspection date and I also have a super of dry frames to take off and store..... then I'm off on a short break for a week so I'm bit nervous to what I might come back to...

 

[user 819]

Remove the dried super and leave them to it.

 

[beeno]

I was around my hive the day before yesterday and I think I heard my queen tooting! It sounded like someone playing a teeny weeny trumpet inside.
My last inspection was on Sunday and no signs of any queen cells, just some old unused play cups from earlier in the summer.
(The colony is strong, egg laying has reduced but I still had 6 full frames of brood in all stages and loads of stores. I haven't started treatment yet on advice of mentor as the colony is still foraging on a lot of flowering plants locally.)
What does this mean? Have I missed something?

Newly emerged virgin queens will hoot like a party blower to challenge any queens ready to emerge, who respond by quacking. The first virgin out will then proceed to sting them whilst they are still in their cells. If she fails to find them on time a fight will ensue or a swarm will issue. I would have a look to make sure all is well ASAP. Make sure you know what a vacated QC looks like. Your mated queen is a priority as there is bad odds to get a virgin mated this late in the season.

 

[Swarm]

You keep saying this. Beeno but I was watching drones and I don't mean one or two, flying happily to and from the hives this afternoon.

 

[user 819]

Very good warm mating weather down here today and for the last few days, mild weather till at least a week Friday. 25 - 26c forecasted here Mon - Weds next week. I see no problem for mating if locally conditions are mild and in the high teens or 20's.

 

[Nige.Coll]

I've lost count of how many late season supersedure queens have mated perfectly well after the first week in september.

 

[Moobee]

I've lost count of how many late season supersedure queens have mated perfectly well after the first week in september.

I was reading an old Dave Cushman post and he said the same thing. Fingers crossed!

 

[user 819]

One only has to think back to realise a lot of old tosh is spoken about late season matings not occurring. How many have opened a colony in spring to find a new queen in residence esp if you clip and mark.

 

[BernardBlack]

Remember knocking down Q cells once, and one Queen escaped out onto a frame, and began tooting. It’s a very distinctive sound.