Author Topic: Nuc Inspection - disappointed and confused (Read 6539 times)

Jen · « **on:** October 19, 2015, 12:44:30 am »

4 weeks ago, I did an inspection on one of my nucs. I found 6 queen cells. Put the lid on and let the supercedure continue.

2 weeks ago, I check to see if queen was out. All queen cells were torn down, the colony was peaceful so I figured queen was out on her mating flight.

Today, 2 weeks later, I check in to see if there is eggs. I found all capped drone brood, larvae and eggs. So the hive is queenless. I was disappointed.

However, there is a queen cup on the bottom frame and the bees are filling it with rjelly. Now I'm confused

I'm thinking that this time of year is too late for a requeening, and I would have to remove all the frames with drone brood and the nuc would essentially start over. Should I just shake the bees out onto the lawn and let them find new homes?

LazyBkpr · « **Reply #1 on:** October 19, 2015, 02:31:50 am »

Without being able to look myself, I would have to guess that the queen cell does not have a viable "female" larvae in it.. i cant actually see any larvae in it at all, but it may be the picture...

Are there multiple eggs per cell, or is there still a queen thats laying unfertilized eggs?

From the pattern i would almost guess that there is a queen that has run out of sperm, but as I said, its hard to tell without being able to look...
Irregardless, At this time of the year there is not much that can be done. If it was mine, I would shake them out and freeze the frames for the bees to re purpose/clean next spring.
If there is a queen, I would axe her before shaking them out.
By the way, dont AXE the queen and toss her in the garbage, or you may find a few hundred bees collecting on your garbage can after you shake them out.
Lets see what everyone else says.

Perry · « **Reply #2 on:** October 19, 2015, 06:41:35 am »

Yea, I think queen ran out of sperm or laying workers. The queen cell is almost certainly a dud. Shake out is probably the way to go.

G3farms · « **Reply #3 on:** October 19, 2015, 07:48:38 am »

toss the queen in the alcohol jar (if you can find her) and shake them out.
Freeze the frames for next year or let he chickens have it.

Les · « **Reply #4 on:** October 19, 2015, 09:06:31 am »

Jen, you are having a difficult year.

Jen · « **Reply #5 on:** October 19, 2015, 02:34:42 pm »

I'm glad to hear this. It reafirms what I was thinking, which helps me along my own path of learning what to do in future predicaments. Already went thru this with one hive in early summer, with 20 frames full of drone brood, so I recognized this situation. I love this forum

Scott, the cell only showed jelly, I looked real close and I couldn't see anything resembling larva, the cell is about 1/3 full. No multiple egg laying, but recent to the day egg laying, eggs from 1 day to 4 days old.

I'll go back in and try and find a queen. If she's there it will be harder to find her because I doubt she got mated at all, her abdomen will be smaller.

Question: What would happen if I didn't find the queen, and she got dumped out with the bees on the lawn?

efmesch · « **Reply #6 on:** October 19, 2015, 04:00:52 pm »

If I understand you corrrectly, you are of the opinion that whoever it is laying the drone eggs in your hive is a new but unfertilized queen. I would suggest that the old queen (that the hive wanted to supercede) is still around---she just didn't want to let go of her position and eliminated the supercedure cells the bees tried to raise. As to the reason for all those drones, Perry gave the answer.

Regarding your question, your guess is as good as mine, and there's only one sure way to get the answer -- try it. But I wouldn't guarantee thata the result would be the same if you should ever be in the same predicament again.

Gypsi · « **Reply #7 on:** October 19, 2015, 04:13:27 pm »

I feel your pain Jen. I'm going to be taking at least one loss this fall I am pretty sure. And drought beekeeping, I think it is really hard.

Jen · « **Reply #8 on:** October 19, 2015, 04:16:12 pm »

Hi Ef

"But I wouldn't guarantee that the result would be the same if you should ever be in the same predicament again.

Well isn't that what beekeeping is all about?

Keeping us guessing forever and eternity ~

But, this year I have learned what a drone ladened hive is. And, unfortunately, I think I have another one as well ~ Drat!

Jen · « **Reply #9 on:** October 19, 2015, 04:19:19 pm »

Hi Gypsy!

I have been considering the drought thing with all my queen trouble this year. I only have one hive with the same queen. But I haven't been in there for about a month... a little worried

efmesch · « **Reply #10 on:** October 19, 2015, 04:22:13 pm »

OY! Bad news for you, but just think of all those queen-rearers in your neighborhood that are getting their queens fertilized.

Jen · « **Reply #11 on:** October 19, 2015, 04:36:42 pm »

Always on the upside you are Ef! Love your optimism

lazy shooter · « **Reply #12 on:** October 19, 2015, 06:30:23 pm »

@Jen:

Of course, Ef is an optimist. He lives in a small country surrounded by tens of millions of hostile neighbors that want to "burn his house down." Heck yes, he and his few million fellow Jews are OPTIMIST.

Ef would be an optimist at any location on earth. His glass is half full. Three cheers for the optimist among us. They bring us hope.

Jen · « **Reply #13 on:** October 19, 2015, 06:48:44 pm »

I'll join you in that salute! Ef also has a wonderful way of teaching so that those of us who have to ask the same question several times 'Get It'

I didn't make gold membership for nuthin' ya know

LazyBkpr · « **Reply #14 on:** October 19, 2015, 11:11:28 pm »

If the queen is still in there when you dump them you are likely to find a large pile of bees clustered around her, rather than flying to and begging their way into another hive. At which point you may be able to dig her out of the pile.

Jen · « **Reply #15 on:** October 20, 2015, 01:25:38 am »

Scott - I actually visualized that possibility! That if the queen were on the ground the bees would cover her, just like a swarm. It would be a perfect way to find her

But then! my bkeeping smarts kicked in and I thought... What if it's an unmated queen? she wouldn't have pheromones so the bees wouldn't cover her. Or a queen that has run out of sperm and has very week pheromones... the bees wouldn't cover her. They would fly off and find new homes.

If there is an unmated queen left on the ground, where will she go? Would she try and find another home to live in as well? That could be trouble.... :eusa_think:

Also, when I decide to knock them on the ground, I should take all the robbing screens off for that day.. right?

efmesch · « **Reply #16 on:** October 20, 2015, 02:25:34 pm »

Lazy shooter says: "Of course, Ef is an optimist. He lives in a small country surrounded by tens of millions of hostile neighbors that want to "burn his house down." Heck yes, he and his few million fellow Jews are OPTIMIST.
Ef responds: Lazy, you don't know how dificult it is these days to refrain from hijacking the discussions on some of the threads, to squeeze in "comments" relative to the latest goings on here. Maybe sticking to the topic of bees and activities directly related to them helps me concentrate on the full part of my cup.

Gypsi · « **Reply #17 on:** October 20, 2015, 05:11:22 pm »

I know what you mean Efmesch. Focusing on bees helps me forget about a lot of things I dislike intensely, fear, worry over and otherwise that cause me stress.

Jen · « **Reply #18 on:** October 22, 2015, 05:30:49 pm »

The deed is done! Shook the bees out of the nuc today. Examined the hive to find possible queen, no luck. When I shook out the bees they spread out instead of piled up. So this was a good decision and Thanks for the help

Gypsi · « **Reply #19 on:** October 24, 2015, 06:01:12 pm »

Did you take the robber screens off?

Author Topic: Nuc Inspection - disappointed and confused (Read 6539 times)

Gypsi

Gypsi

Gypsi