urgent advice please

[Cuckmere couple]

our July purchased buckfast colony have been great

just found a single capped q cell in this colony - 3 other q cups, none charged.

also found queen

as a temporary measure we have put q cell and 4 frames in a poly nuc next to hive and left queen with the other 7 frames in hive

help?

 

[Walrus]

I would just remove the queen cell. Too late for letting them re-queen themselves.

 

[Cuckmere couple]

ok....so put hive back together with queen and destroy capped cell?

 

[Walrus]

yep. and feed if they need it.

 

[Cuckmere couple]

was about to put second apiguard on and feed in a couple of weeks

they have about 3 brood frames of capped stores, sound ok?

 

[Walrus]

sounds fine as does your plan

 

[Cuckmere couple]

destroyed

it was a proper full queen grub

this is about the 4th charged queen cup we've had in this colony over last two months

they have all been single cells

normal?

 

[Karsal]

destroyed

it was a proper full queen grub

this is about the 4th charged queen cup we've had in this colony over last two months

they have all been single cells

normal?

The bees must have a reason for creating a new queen seeing this was their fourth attempt. It could be their last!

 

[Cuckmere couple]

i know...its odd...theyve only ever created one at a time...not more...but frames are full of eggs and queen appears to be fat and healthy

ive read from some that buckfasts sometimes do this but seems odd

 

[drex]

She may appear healthy to you, but the bees likely know different. May be supercedure. At this time of year I would have left them to get on with it.

 

[jeff33]

She may appear healthy to you, but the bees likely know different. May be supercedure. At this time of year I would have left them to get on with it.

If she doesn't mate successfully the bees should kill her and keep current queen.

 

[masterBK]

You can't assume that mother and daughter queens will co-exist ( so called perfect supersedure) as the supersedure queen quite often kill their mother (imperfect supersedure) before they go on their mating flights so if they then don't get mated they end up as drone layers.

 

[Cuckmere couple]

so, hard to tell what the best course of action should be

 

[Millet]

What about re Queening the hive... i know it is late but it would be better than risking a virgin getting mated..

 

[john t]

What about re Queening the hive... i know it is late but it would be better than risking a virgin getting mated..

 

[Spikedog]

Cuckmere, same problem here x2 – one: Today found a sealed Q cell alongside existing (this season) Queen. I am putting it down to her being off lay by reason of recent MAQS treatment. Eggs are relatively scarce, BUT it is possible she has a fault. In any case knocked the Q cell as have no confidence in an emerging virgin being mated at this time - 3 other colonies have failed to have VQ’s mated in the past weeks. If as is likely it is a supercedure attempt, can’t see the logic of Mother and barren (save for drone) daughter reigning for the winter. Second: An old Queen (2 year) also limited in laying and possibly failing (no MAQS excuse) and a sealed QC. Was about to raise the question but saw yours in advance. … On consideration, will knock the cell and think of combining or perhaps keeping fingers crossed the old lady makes it to springtime. Hope yours survives.

 

[Cuckmere couple]

thanks SpikeD

have had a lot of advice and on balance, knocking the q cell down seems a good option, although, if it is perfect supersedure, it may be wrong

dave cushman is a good read

http://www.dave-cushman.net/bee/supersedure.html

 

[wightbees]

Could always save present Q and see how the new Queen goes? That's what I would do..

 

[beeno]

thanks SpikeD

have had a lot of advice and on balance, knocking the q cell down seems a good option, although, if it is perfect supersedure, it may be wrong

dave cushman is a good read

http://www.dave-cushman.net/bee/supersedure.html

The man with the biggest queen rearing problem in the country?

 

[Walrus]

this is about the 4th charged queen cup we've had in this colony over last two months

they have all been single cells

Holy cr4p! Would have been good to know that...