queenless

[Eugene Willson]

Hi,
I have a hive that I installed in June, it swarmed in late July and a virgin queen mated and started laying. Two weeks into August I noticed the brood was mostly drones and she had a poor pattern and few cells used. I added some fresh eggs on a piece of comb and they just made workers with them, A few days  later they started queen cells on a different comb.
One matured last week and killed a couple of the others and I thought ok all is well. I still have 4 queen cells, no eggs very little brood. What do I do at this stage to fix the problem. I am worried it is getting to late to have a new queen breed.
Gene

[iddee]

A new queen won't start laying a week after emerging. Give her 2 more weeks and then you can worry if you don't have eggs.

[Eugene Willson]

I was wondering if there even was a queen, I could not find her and I still have 4 queen cells. Isn't it normal for the new queen to kill the others?
Thanks
Gene

[iddee]

Bees don't always act normal. They will do opposite what we think they will. A virgin queen is very hard to spot. They act and look very much like a worker. Being in Ia., you may not have drones this late. I would wait about 3 weeks and then combine them with another hive if you have no eggs.

[Eugene Willson]

Ok thanks,
I will have to figure out a way if it comes to that, it is the top bar hive in my photo and all my others are langstroth
Gene

[ed/La.]

 You could give some brood with eggs, You do not want to get laying worker bee.  Probably to late to make queen, Hope you have one

[LMasters]

I agree with iddee on how late in the year it is.....I see it this way: It's too late to find a mated queen to introduce, and if you did, they'd more than likely reject it.  I would NOT rob any brood or bees from another hive that is doing perfectly well.  At this point I would throw some salt over the shoulder and wish them the best that she had a successful mating flight.  Next year, make increases from survivors, whomever that may be.