Hi,
I have a hive that I installed in June, it swarmed in late July and a virgin queen mated and started laying. Two weeks into August I noticed the brood was mostly drones and she had a poor pattern and few cells used. I added some fresh eggs on a piece of comb and they just made workers with them, A few days later they started queen cells on a different comb.
One matured last week and killed a couple of the others and I thought ok all is well. I still have 4 queen cells, no eggs very little brood. What do I do at this stage to fix the problem. I am worried it is getting to late to have a new queen breed.
Gene
A new queen won't start laying a week after emerging. Give her 2 more weeks and then you can worry if you don't have eggs.
I was wondering if there even was a queen, I could not find her and I still have 4 queen cells. Isn't it normal for the new queen to kill the others?
Thanks
Gene
Bees don't always act normal. They will do opposite what we think they will. A virgin queen is very hard to spot. They act and look very much like a worker. Being in Ia., you may not have drones this late. I would wait about 3 weeks and then combine them with another hive if you have no eggs.
Ok thanks,
I will have to figure out a way if it comes to that, it is the top bar hive in my photo and all my others are langstroth
Gene
You could give some brood with eggs, You do not want to get laying worker bee. Probably to late to make queen, Hope you have one
I agree with iddee on how late in the year it is.....I see it this way: It's too late to find a mated queen to introduce, and if you did, they'd more than likely reject it. I would NOT rob any brood or bees from another hive that is doing perfectly well. At this point I would throw some salt over the shoulder and wish them the best that she had a successful mating flight. Next year, make increases from survivors, whomever that may be.