Well.... I guess they offed her then, or, maybe she just died. That would be okay that she died surrounded by bees that were taking care of her... and not all alone in a top bar hive out in a field on the other side of town.
My guess would be she's unhealthy from mites and trach mites. She came from a top bar hive where the colony absconded, more than likely mite ridden, because beekeeper will not treat.
What did I learn?
1. To find another way to feed a queen when introducing her to a new hive. I have done that with the suggestion of Lee and the directions he provided for me on how to make a push in cage. Then Apis encouraged me to put her in a push in cage before I shook in bees from another hive. I made that push in cage but didn't get to use it.
2. I was so pleasantly surprised, actually astounded, that the bees had cleaned up a very sticky queen right thru the screen. I had lost hope of her survival when she couldn't unstick her feet up off of the floor of the wooden cage.
3. I saw the nurturing of the nurse bees and their constant feeding, bathing, and caring for a queen that was not healthy and couldn't move up to the frames.
All in all this was a good project
