So I got a over wintered nuc that hasn?t took off this spring. Pattern has just been so so. Not sure if it has been here or just lack of bees. So I was going through some swarm traps I had moved home. Came across one that was very small. It was Queenless and had went LW. Not sure if she didn?t make it in on the move or if it was a virgin that didn?t make it back on mating flight. Anyway I decided to shake them out in front of said nuc. I checked couple days later and it was packed with bees. I found two cups halfway up comb on the end in a gap between comb and end bar. Not sure if supercedure cells or swarm cells. Both had larvae in them. So I shut them up. Kinda was crunched on time. Went back over this past weekend and was going to look again and make decision on whether to split or see if just supercedure. To my surprise both cups were now empty. Queen had started back laying better. She backfilling all the patchy spots around all the capped brood. So why did they start the cells and then stop them? My guess is they were going to supersede her but the boost in bees caused her to lay more. Your thoughts?
My first thought is wondering if it is your overwintered queen doing the laying. Could she have been superseded just before/during your swarm shaking. The other side is that I read that a study by Dave Tarpy showed that a poor queen can start laying again when introduced into a new hive. Just early morning thoughts.
Quote from: rast on May 19, 2021, 08:21:52 AM
My first thought is wondering if it is your overwintered queen doing the laying. Could she have been superseded just before/during your swarm shaking. The other side is that I read that a study by Dave Tarpy showed that a poor queen can start laying again when introduced into a new hive. Just early morning thoughts.
It is possible but I don?t think so. I normally stay on top of them. I should?ve caught it but never know. She wasn?t marked so don?t know.
The hive will only raise what brood which can be tended to. A lack of bees will contribute to a slow start, as well as a failing queen will produce spotty brood. Also, mites can be a culprit. It is good that they are on the ball now. You might check your frames closely looking for mite frass. You may wish to do a mite wash just to be sure. With a small hive and a small amount bees, capture the proper percentage to be washed accordingly. In other words I do not think I would catch the usual 100 for the wash with a weak hive. Remember, don't wash the queen! :happy:
Queens lay according to the incoming nectar and pollen, a small hive does not have enough bees to gather more than what is required to keep them alive.
Add more bees, more workers, more input into hive stores and so the queen starts laying more as the new brood can be fed.
Also there is only a small amount of brood in the original hive and so the new bees don't have a big drain on the stores brought in.
Is it normal for them to start cells then stop them?
Yes,
If the reason for making a new queen changes they adjust. If the flow stopped before the swarm cells were capped. They could decide not to swarm. If the queen started laying a good brood they may decide to keep her.
Jim Altmiller