Virgin queens and swarms

[backyard warrior]

Will a hive swarm if the queen is removed once the queen cells inside the hive hatch out??? Or will the first queen go around and kill all the virgin queens not hatched?? My concern is will they swarm with virgin queens in a queenless hive ?? thanks Chris

[Kathyp]

sometimes.  it's not so uncommon for a hive to throw after swarms with virgin queens.  my observation is that this happens most often in a hive with very limited room.  trees, small wall spaces, etc.  you if you have done a split and left lots of room for the new queen i'd bet that you would be ok.

if you are concerned, you can split again if you have enough bees. put some cells in one nuc and some in another. 

[Michael Bush]

If you are asking if removing the laying queen will stop them from swarming, no it won't.  removing here and some frames of brood and honey have a good chance of stopping them from swarming though...

[backyard warrior]

thanks for the info i guess im going to go threw the hives and remove all put one queen cell.  Im trying to keep the hives congested with bees for a good nectar collection without losing them to a swarm.  chris

[FRAMEshift]

thanks for the info i guess im going to go threw the hives and remove all put one queen cell.  Im trying to keep the hives congested with bees for a good nectar collection without losing them to a swarm.  chris

There is no reason to remove any queen cells unless you plan to use them in another split.  If you reduce the number of bees and open brood and honey, that will stop any afterswarms.  Removing all but one is dangerous because the one you leave may be deficient or dead.