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Advice for queenless hive in Sep

  • 18 Sep 2022 5:54 PM
    Message # 12923615
    Deleted user

    we have one hive that is appears to be queenless (or has unmated queen- because there is only drone brood. 3 weeks ago we observed a small queen, but would expect to see normal brood by now.  

    does anyone have advice? ie is it worth attempting to find/purchase a mated queen and introduce her?   The hive does have plentiful honey stores. 

    Also, a separate hive has no queen, few workers, lots of drones, and it appears that all of the honey has been consumed or robbed.   Can anything be done with this hive? or is it a loss?  

    appreciate any advice

    thanks!

  • 19 Sep 2022 4:59 PM
    Reply # 12925050 on 12923615

    It is a little late in the year to produce diutinus (winter) bees to overwinter.  By the time you introduce a queen and she starts laying and her first batch of brood emerges, it will be November.  To care for that winter bee brood you would need a healthy population of nurse bees presently, which you don't have.  This is the wrong time of the year for drone production, so you may have laying-worker problems.  Unfortunately, both of these colonies are failing. 

  • 20 Sep 2022 7:28 AM
    Reply # 12925667 on 12923615
    Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Your best move might be to combine the colonies?

    Save the drawn comb if possible! Freeze it to kill the moth and preserve the comb. If you don't have freezer space (get one) at least cycle the frames through the freezer (then keep them out in the light and dry) to keep the moth from moving in.

    Last modified: 20 Sep 2022 11:27 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)
  • 21 Sep 2022 9:03 AM
    Reply # 12927114 on 12923615

    This is a situation where having a small resource nuc with active mated queen might be the only salvation. There has been lots of attention to this topic in TVBA conversations this year.  A small healthy nuc would be a possible foundation to add these surviving bees together. But only if there are not laying workers present.

  • 23 Jul 2023 8:31 AM
    Reply # 13231177 on 12923615
    Deleted user

    Well, we're not in September but I have a similar problem. My hive swarmed. Now I have 2 weak colonies in one respect or another.  What is the best possible action? I wonder if I can put the two back together again with more space and a different location? Or do I need to maintain two colonies 1 with no stores for winter 1 with no queen for the time being?

  • 23 Jul 2023 8:57 AM
    Reply # 13231180 on 12923615
    Anonymous member (Administrator)

    There is still time to requeen this year.

    Give them time to requeen. When was the last date you saw eggs?

    If a hive is queenless and not making a queen you can add a frame with fresh eggs for them to make a queen.

    You have a brood break right now so take the opportunity to treat for mites and make a huge dent in the mite population.

    If you need a frame with eggs that can be arraigned.

    Last modified: 23 Jul 2023 9:00 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)
  • 24 Jul 2023 8:33 AM
    Reply # 13231493 on 12923615
    Deleted user

    I was in the hive that was swarmed from and I believe I saw a queen cell!! But does that mean that a queen is there currently being raised? Or that a queen WAS there? The swarmed colony is now in bee boxes. I didn't take the time to locate a queen upon another members advice. There are still bees in the tree i collected the swarm from should I be concerned? Is the queen still there? Would the hived swarm have stayed put? Or would they have gone back to the tree? Do I try to shake the rest out? 

    Treating for mites is a great idea. If I treat now will I have to treat again before winter? 

    Apologies for all the questions! I am trying to learn: read, listen ask questions while still trying to keep up with the bees like wild horses dragging me away! Isn't it wonderful!



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  • 24 Jul 2023 9:36 AM
    Reply # 13231528 on 12923615
    Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Did that big fat queen cell in the first pic hatch out?

    Did you already have drawn comb to put the bees on? Who made the queen cell? When? If the bees made a queen they must have had one to start with. It appears the the bees have been on that comb for some time, and queenless as they are close to being honey bound, it looks like they are backfilling the brood area.

    It may take as long as 2 weeks for her to start laying. She has to harden up, then she will do her mating flight. Then she will start laying.

    Did the swarm issue from a tree hive, or were they bivouacked there? If this was a bivouacked swarm the queen is likely still on the tree if a significant number of bees stayed on the tree. Is the hive you put them in close to the tree (so maybe the rest of the swarm will follow).

    If you still have bees on the tree I would gather them up with a bee vacuum. You may have split the swarm or you had multiple queens in a swarm. If you are local I can bring over a vac to capture them.


    Last modified: 24 Jul 2023 9:55 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)
  • 24 Jul 2023 9:53 AM
    Reply # 13231539 on 12923615
    Deleted user

    hi Rick, Using a Vac would sure be helpful!! are you availiable today? 

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