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Author Topic: No Queen. How Long to Wait?  (Read 2404 times)

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Offline tbonekel

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No Queen. How Long to Wait?
« on: April 19, 2015, 04:37:07 pm »
On April 4th, I saw capped and uncapped queen cells in one hive. The Queen rearing calendars tell me that when I see capped cells on April 4th, the 19th is typically the last day of mating flights. Anytime between tomorrow and the 30th, I should see eggs. I just got in the hive today. Didn't really look too hard for the queen, but didn't see any eggs. The calendar also says that if I don't see eggs by May 7th, requeen. Now, would you wait that long? Typically, when might I see a laying worker appear? I don't want that, of course.
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Offline iddee

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Re: No Queen. How Long to Wait?
« Reply #1 on: April 19, 2015, 05:17:15 pm »
Approx. the 25th to 28th, I would look again. If no eggs, I would add a frame of eggs from another hive. A week after that, I would check that frame for queen cells. You should have eggs or queen cells at that time.
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Offline Ray

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Re: No Queen. How Long to Wait?
« Reply #2 on: April 19, 2015, 05:19:07 pm »
Iddee beat me to it  :'( here it is anyway

stick a frame with some eggs in the hive. The bees will tell you what's going on.
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Offline efmesch

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Re: No Queen. How Long to Wait?
« Reply #3 on: April 19, 2015, 05:29:25 pm »
This is one of the instances where it is important that you check  carefully for the queen.  Best time would be early in the day or later in the afternoon since around mid-day she could well be out on a mating flight.  Be sensitive to the bee's behavior---if they are irritated or buzzing more than normally, it could be an indication that the queen has been away for too long or that they are queenless.
Another thing to look for would be cleared patches around the middle of any of the frames.  The bees prepare these areas in advance for the queen to lay.  If you've got areas like that, even without seeing the queen, it could be an indication that she is present but not yet laying. 
As to directly answer your question "how long to wait?" if you've had pleasant, warm weather, one week should be more than adequate.  If it's been rainy and/or cold, things could well be delayed for another week or two, depending on how long it's been inclement.
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Offline Lburou

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Re: No Queen. How Long to Wait?
« Reply #4 on: April 19, 2015, 05:46:55 pm »
Quote from: iddee on April 19, 2015, 05:17:15 pm
Approx. the 25th to 28th, I would look again. If no eggs, I would add a frame of eggs from another hive. A week after that, I would check that frame for queen cells. You should have eggs or queen cells at that time.
This approach is waaaay too easy.  But it will work.  In fact, you don't have to wait, add the brood now, sometimes that kickstarts the laying.  Efmesh has some good ideas as well.   :)

I could probably find an overwintered. laying, VSH queen if you need one.....But you'd have to stop by the house.
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