I did a shake out about 3 weeks ago of my queen-less hive. At the same time I put on a Mite Away II pad (the weather has been well within the temperature reqs). This past weekend, I went into my remaining queen-right hive, and no eggs or larvae, only capped and emerging brood. I think somehow my good queen is dead.
- Should a shakeout kill the queen in a queen-right hive?
.....- if the shakeout population is large and only one recipient hive?
.....- if there is a queen in the shakeout?
- The queen-right hive is Russian. Would the queen stop laying in the spring with a sudden in-flux of new bees?
There may have been a chronically virgin queen in my shakeout. I think the shakeout killed my good queen, but I'm not sure how or why. I hoped with a shakeout that would not happen, which is why I went with a shakeout instead of a newspaper combine. I had hoped to strengthen my hive, but instead it looks like I killed it.
Anyway, I am baffled as to what happened. Any ideas appreciated.
Grid.
do a google search on the question of queen laying and mite away. seems like you are not the only one to have this happen. might be someone on here who has used it and can point you to the right info, but the treatment seems like a possible answer. if so, wait and see what happens.
If you get the treatment too strong (cut extra holes in the wrap, have exceedingly high temps, poor ventilation, ...) then I have heard of the bees turning on the queen. Perhaps a combination of the stress of the formic acid and the the shake out arrivals.
Thanks kathyp.
Grid
Formic is known, not only to kill brood but queens. It may be there is no brood and it may be there is no queen. Adding a frame of open brood and eggs from another hive is the best solution to the issue.
Thanks. I have no immediate source of eggs/brood, but weather allowing (and a 1.5 hour drive) I will get a frame this Saturday.
Thanks
Grid.