One of my hives has lost their queen. I have one or two queen cells going and I know at least one has an egg in it. Attached are some pics of the three frames removed and put in the freezer. I would like for them to re-queen themselves if only for the experience of watching the process. I replaced the three frames with fresh un drawn and added a hive top feeder of syrup.
My question is; does anyone know what kind of bee is in the first two photos. I found three or four of them in the hive.
Hive #2 seems to have a laying queen in it even though there was some speculation that she had gone missing also. I found covered brood and fresh laid eggs in a good pattern. So that is a relief.
(http://s23.postimg.org/zc1x7355z/IMG_0233.jpg) (http://postimg.org/image/zc1x7355z/)
(http://s23.postimg.org/rfhfyutpj/IMG_0234.jpg) (http://postimg.org/image/rfhfyutpj/)
(http://s23.postimg.org/59xc8k3qf/IMG_0235.jpg) (http://postimg.org/image/59xc8k3qf/)
(http://s23.postimg.org/6wr57j55z/IMG_0236.jpg) (http://postimg.org/image/6wr57j55z/)
(http://s23.postimg.org/8jgcsrh7r/IMG_0237.jpg) (http://postimg.org/image/8jgcsrh7r/)
(http://s23.postimg.org/4qwud11pj/IMG_0238.jpg) (http://postimg.org/image/4qwud11pj/)
(http://s23.postimg.org/wytmqxmg7/IMG_0239.jpg) (http://postimg.org/image/wytmqxmg7/)
(http://s23.postimg.org/ekj3mya5j/IMG_0240.jpg) (http://postimg.org/image/ekj3mya5j/)
(http://s23.postimg.org/519ethmnb/IMG_0241.jpg) (http://postimg.org/image/519ethmnb/)
I thank all who look and all who respond, any and all advice is welcome.
Well looking at those pictures of comb.. you've got a laying worker in that hive.
As for the bee. Maybe someone else has a clue. Perhaps that is a laying worker. Not sure if they look different or not.
Some type of wasp. :shock: :) d2
Nietssemaj; No doubt about that! I am hoping for them to re-Queen, which they have started, by pulling those frames and adding empty foundation. Its not a worker, its about half the size of a honey bee. The girls did not seem to bother it and it was eating stored syrup at one point.
Don2; Didn't even think of a wasp!
The fuzziness is confusing as wasps are usually smooth. The proportions are wrong for a bee.
You have laying workers.
http://www.bushfarms.com/beeslayingworkers.htm (http://www.bushfarms.com/beeslayingworkers.htm)