Early one September morning I noticed a cluster of approx 20 soggy,dead and dying bees on the front of my hive about 3 inches away from the hive entrance. I flicked the cluster and they fell on the slab beneath. Amongst the bees was an unmarked queen,dead.
I was already aware that the hive was superseding but later that day could nt find the marked queen that should have been resident.
It was obvious after subsequent checks that I was queen less.
Can anyone suggest what may have happened ?
In supersedure at what stage does the original queen go ? Is she killed ? Is she kicked out?
Why did nt the new queen get in the hive ?
I realise that I will never know for sure what happened but has anyone any good ideas ?
I was already aware that the hive was superseding but later that day could nt find the marked queen that should have been resident.
It was obvious after subsequent checks that I was queen less.
Can anyone suggest what may have happened ?
In supersedure at what stage does the original queen go ? Is she killed ? Is she kicked out?
Why did nt the new queen get in the hive ?
I realise that I will never know for sure what happened but has anyone any good ideas ?