Help! First hive inspection this year in Michigan!?

[harvey]

Sixty degrees so I did a complete hive inspection today.  I didn't like what I saw.  I saw absolutely no brood?  I wintered in two deeps.  There are still six frames of honey in the top deep.  Also I found one cell in the top deep center frame that I am sure is a supercedure cell.  It is huge!  I found pollen in the hive too and saw bee's bringing in more,  Yellow and orange.  In the bottom box I found very little honey just on the top of the frames.  No brood there either.  I did see something that had me a little worried some cells have what looks like multiple larva?  Or maybe it is sugar that I fed in February?  Not sure.  On frame ten in the bottom deep I found three spots of mold about the size of a dime.  I scraped this off.  The bottom board was very messy,  I cleaned this up too.  Now I have heard that a queenless hive is agressive?  This hive was still docile and I went through the whole thing?  I saw no eggs or brood?  That is what I am really worried about and I have no idea if I have any drones?  Couldn't point one out at this point in the game.  Does anyone have any ideas?  This is a swarm that I hived last year may 30th,  I have never treated with anything.  Would appreciate any opinions help or ideas.  Thanks Harv

[annette]

If it was my hive, I would feel pretty good about several things.

1. The supercedure cell tells me a new queen is on the way so whether or not they have one, I feel good about this.
2. They are bringing in pollen, usually a good and healthy sign
3. They are docile peaceful bees usually a good sign to me
4. Enough honey in top super and also on the tops of some frames in bottom super, so you do not have to feed them and they will not starve.

Not sure about the larva you think you saw. It would be good for you to know the difference between larva and sugar. Larva looks like a small white worm shaped like a "C".  Don't worry about the mold. Also not sure what you mean by the mess on the bottom board. I will let other beeks respond to this one because I use only open screened bottom boards and not sure what condition the bottom board should be in after a long winter.  Basically the bees keep the hive very clean and I would think the bottom board should have been clean also.

If the population is good, I would just keep an eye on the hive to make sure the queen starts to lay eggs in a few weeks.

Lets hear from other more experienced beekeepers.

Annette

[iddee]

 Very often, and I think this is one case, the very best thing that can be done is wait a week and check again.
It will clear up many questions.

[buzzbee]

Iddee is right on this. Was there a lot of bees?

[Jim134]

Bees bringing in pollen is a good sign but very best thing that can be done is wait a 7 to 10 days and check again.




   BEE HAPPY Jim 134  :)

[harvey]

A lot of Bee's?  Well I think more than what I originally hived,  Top Deep was pretty full and there were bee's in the bottom deep and outside as well.   Junk on the bottom was some dry sugar that wasn't dry anymore and some other soggy stuff that I think was dead bees, grass and whatever else had gotten wet and sat there most of the winter.   Ok so I will wait ten days then check again.  I sure hope I didn't squish that one supercedure cell.   I don't think so as I put the frames back pretty carefull and in the same order as they came out.  I have my fingers crossed.   Thanks.