Split Hive questions ???????????????

[Cossack]

 I split a 2 brood box hive that had 2 supers on top  two weeks ago. In preparation for a new queen to come in this week. The queenless hive had capped brood when I split it.

  I checked the hive last evening and noticed 2 new queen cells that were empty. I did not see a queen or any new brood. I also noticed several (10) nurse bees in the hive with stunted wings or severely under devloped wings. I did notice plenty of honey and pollen being collected.

My questions are: Is there a worker now laying in this hive?

                         Can I still install the new queen tomorrow? Or will she be killed?

Thanks in advance.

[JP]

You don't necessarily have a laying worker, evidence of a laying worker is multiple eggs/larvae on the sides of the cells as laying workers can't deposit eggs on the bottom of cells as their butts aren't long enough for the task.

When making a split where you want the colony to raise a queen from eggs/larvae, you need eggs/larvae first off for them to do so with. Larvae more than 4 days old are too old to use.

When preparing a colony for a new queen, kill the mated queen and leave them queenless 24 hours, then introduce the new queen, either direct or caged, your method of choice there.

Deformed wings could be a virus or varroa mite.


...JP

[Rich V]

Check the hive for a virgin queen. She will look just like a queen but smaller. Look closely into the cells. If you see more then one egg in a cell you can have laying workers.

[Kathyp]

you probably have a queen :-).  if there were any very young larvae or any eggs,  they went right at making one.  they'll even try with older larvae, but without success.  did you check any time during that 2 weeks?  2 weeks is about right for a new queen and you'll have to make sure before you put in a new one.

[Cossack]

Thanks    JP, Rich V, and Kathy P.

I checked last night and I spotted the new queen.


Mike.