queenless questions

Started by DaveKow, June 24, 2008, 04:54:21 PM

Previous topic - Next topic

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

DaveKow

Sun. I ck'd one of my hives, and found some queen cells.  No eggs, no larva, lots of capped.  The queen cells looked pretty developed and a couple were capped.  Today it seems a few queen cells are gone.   Would they tear these down if they haven't hatched a queen yet?  Being a rookie I can't tell if a cell hatched or was never capped.

I took a frame with eggs from my other hive.  How long do I need to wait to see if they build queen cells on it?  If they don't is it safe to assume that a queen emerged from the queen cells I saw Sun? 

I am pretty sure that they didn't swarm.  The bottom brood nest is pretty barren.

Thanks,

Dave

homer

You should know in 3 or 4 days if there is a queen in the hive or not.  If not, then you'll have new queen cells on the frame you just put.  Seeing as how you had gueen cells in your hive though, my guess is that you've got a virgin queen that has yet to leave the hive and mate.  Either way, you'll know in a matter of time.

Moonshae

At this point, it's too late to do anything but wait. See if you can find a queen or evidence of one in two or three weeks.
"The mouth of a perfectly contented man is filled with beer." - Egyptian Proverb, 2200 BC

DaveKow

Thanks for the replies.  Just to be safe I called http://www.dewbeehoney.com/ to be sure that he had queens should I need one.  Lucky for me it is only a half an hour away. 

So, just to be sure.  If queen cells appear then I can cut them out, get a new queen and they should accept her.  If no queen cells then I just have to wait to see if she mates and makes it back.

Thanks again,
Dave

DaveKow

If you hear piping is it safe to say that you now have a queen emerged? 

Thanks.

Eshu

You are already down the path of letting them raise another queen.  There were queen cells, AND you added a frame of eggs.  The best plan now is to let them raise the queen, let her mate etc.  More often than not tearing down the queens cells is a mistake.  Give them a couple weeks undisturbed, and try not to worry about it.

derrick1p1

Queen cells are destroyed from the side, never from the top or bottom.  So if there are holes on the side of the queen cell (or a large hole), most likely was destroyed by another queen.  Cells where the bottom has been uncapped (queen and workers will chew around the bottom of the cell to release her, causing the bottom of the cell to open like a little round door, with a hinge.  although sometimes the entire capping can be removed altogether...I've seen both). 

It is a rare thing to hear a queen piping.  If she is piping however, I'd leave the hive alone and let her do her thing (emerge, destroy other queen cells etc).

If you have queen cells, do no destroy them.  This is their queen and they will not be as likely to accept another queen without some effort on your part.  Leave the hive alone for a couple of weeks.  I've learned the hard way.  I have 2 hives with queen cells right now.  Rather than keep disturbing them as I have in the past, I'm going to give them ample time to emerge, mate and start laying before I inspect them during this time.

Best of luck, keep us posted.
Derrick
I won't let grass grow under my feet, there will be plenty of time to push up daisies.

homer

Quote from: derrick1p1 on July 02, 2008, 12:36:09 PM
It is a rare thing to hear a queen piping.  If she is piping however...

What exactly is piping?

Brian D. Bray

Quote from: homer on July 02, 2008, 08:52:20 PM
Quote from: derrick1p1 on July 02, 2008, 12:36:09 PM
It is a rare thing to hear a queen piping.  If she is piping however...

What exactly is piping?

Wiell, it takes a scotchman, a kilt, and a 6 armed licorice stick attached to a sheep's stomach.

But really,
Piping is the sound a queen makes, think of a day old chicken and raise it an octave or 2.
Life is a school.  What have you learned?   :brian:      The greatest danger to our society is apathy, vote in every election!

derrick1p1

I found a site that recorded a queen piping.  Can't remember the address, but you may find it if you google it.  I've heard it once, when I had 3 banked queens in a drawer (got them a day early, introduced them the next day).  I think queens pipe as a "battle cry" to other queens, and if they are stressed.  It's pretty amazing to hear such a bugle type sound come from an insect.
I won't let grass grow under my feet, there will be plenty of time to push up daisies.

Scadsobees

I've heard it before but didn't realize till this spring what it was.  It sounds to me like a high pitched loud buzzing, sort of like when you pin a fly to the window and it is trying to escape.  With as many #@$$# queens as were hatching in my hives(swarms), I was bound to hear it plenty.
Rick

DaveKow

We appear to have a laying queen.  Thanks for helping me through my first requeen. 

Now my other hive has a capped queen cell.  Some uncapped larva, no eggs.  Not sure what happened to her.  I haven't been in the hive so I know I didn't kill this one.  Time to wait and see, again.

Thanks,
Dave