New queen introduction seems to have failed.

wexfordman2

Hi,

Split my first hive about a fortnight ago, the queenless hive was drawing down new queen cells and all seemed to be going as planned.

I did however get hold of a laying queen from a friend who kindly gave it to me in a cage.

I introduced her in the cage,surrounded with newspaper and left her to it. I also broke down all the existing queen cells as I now had a laying queen

Checked the next day and she was out, so delighted.

Went aback a few days later and no sign of her. Checked again next day and still no sign, and no eggs either. Still saw pollen being brought in etx.

Was advised to introduce a new frame of eggs which I did last Friday and left alone till today.

Checked them today, and there are about 8 sealed queen cells on the frame.

So, it would appear my queen that I introduced failed, and my colony is now looking to raise new queens.

The sealed queen cells are a bit early though ? If the frame of eggs was only introduced last Friday and today, Tuesday I have sealed queen cells ?

Would appreciate opinions and advice on next steps.

Thanks.

bpmurray

I bet it wasn't just eggs in that frame - they'll take a 4 day old larva and queen that instead.

I think your introduction was decidedly odd - surrounded by newspaper? If you introduce a new queen, she's usually in a cage with the entrance blocked with a good chunk of fondant - by the time they chew through that, they'll accept her. The newspaper thing is when you unite two colonies.

Anyway, was she clipped and marked? If so, she may have decided to swarm and would have simply fallen on the ground. The other bees would then return to the hive. That would be my guess as to what happened.

wexfordman2

bpmurray wrote: »

I bet it wasn't just eggs in that frame - they'll take a 4 day old larva and queen that instead.

I think your introduction was decidedly odd - surrounded by newspaper? If you introduce a new queen, she's usually in a cage with the entrance blocked with a good chunk of fondant - by the time they chew through that, they'll accept her. The newspaper thing is when you unite two colonies.

Anyway, was she clipped and marked? If so, she may have decided to swarm and would have simply fallen on the ground. The other bees would then return to the hive. That would be my guess as to what happened.

Hi, yep, she was in a cage with fondant and the entrance ocjed with newspaper. Sort that's what I meant, should have been clearer

I take it I now need to predict when the new queen is ready to emerge, and I bed to select which cells to break down and which ones to leave ?

bpmurray

Just to be safe, get yourself an apidea or two and cut out one (or 2) cells using a sharp knife or scalpel - make sure you don't damage the cell. Add bees and fondant and you'll have backup(s). It's actually easy enough - google for how to do it. This will give you one or two queens (one per apidea) as backups - if you don't need them, you can return the favour your friend did you.

Then tear down all but one sealed queen cell. Probably the longest one you can see and the one that seems roughest - apparently they're better than smooth ones (I actually don't know, but someone who should, said so). Then put the roof on and wait for two weeks. make sure you only leave one queen cell, and that there are no young or eggs that can be used to create more!

You can calculate dates from this.

wexfordman2

Thanks bp,

Am getting two apedia on Saturday so will do that on Sunday.

Than is a million. Will let us know how it goes.

wexfordman2

Well, just thought I would update on this hive and how it went.

The queen emerged, and I saw eggs from her in early July. I clipped her and marked her on the 8th July after a few attempts to find her. She looked great was laying fantasticly and I saw her again on the 20th.

Went back on the 28th and all I saw was larva and about a dozen queen cells ! No eggs.

Figured she was gone, broke down all but one queen cell, took three away and put them in my incubator.

The incubator ones hatched about two days later, so I Figured the one I left was about to hatch also. Went back about two days later again to check she had emerged. She had not, so I uncapped the queen cell and she came out.

Was pleased enough I had a queen in the hive again, until I noticed she had just 1 wing. (Hive looks clean and no sing of k wing on other bees ).

Removed her and got a queen from my incubator and introduced her in a cage. Have not been back since and am away for the week, so will check her again next Saturday.

Interested in opinions and feedback on what I did here, if it was correct or not, and any idea what happened to my laying queen ?

Joe Brennan

Hopefully your hive should be back on track, Best of luck