Problems in September

Donovan J · September 08, 2019, 01:54:53 PM

So on Tuesday I did a hive inspection on the Tulip hive. I saw a big queen cell and dumb me forgot to see if there was a queen before destroying it. I looked on the next frame and there was tons of eggs so I figured if I made a mistake they could make more queen cells. I finished off the top box and looked through the bottom. I could not find the queen. She either died or I squished her but I hadn't been in there in more than a week and there was fresh eggs so it had to happen in the last three days. She probably died from some type of disease. So now I have a queenless hive with fall knocking on the door. Things are not good.

BeeMaster2 · September 08, 2019, 05:55:08 PM

Xerox,
If you saw lots of eggs and only one queen cell, your queen is probably still in the hive. Queens are very good at hiding. Why did you destroy the q cell? They may/probably were superseding the queen. You would have 2 queens laying going into fall and a new queen for next year.
With lots of eggs, they will probably just make a new one.
Jim Altmiller

Donovan J · September 08, 2019, 06:59:56 PM

I didn't want to lose this queen as she is a good layer. I will check today to see if I just missed her once it stops raining.

van from Arkansas · September 08, 2019, 08:13:13 PM

Agree with Jim. Xerox, even the best of experienced eyes can easily miss visual of a queen. I hope your queen is fine, OK.

Van

Donovan J · September 08, 2019, 11:38:09 PM

Quote from: van from Arkansas on September 08, 2019, 08:13:13 PM
Agree with Jim. Xerox, even the best of experienced eyes can easily miss visual of a queen. I hope your queen is fine, OK.

Van

My 16 year old eyes are already failing

I found her today!

Ben Framed · September 09, 2019, 07:13:23 AM

Quote from: Xerox on September 08, 2019, 11:38:09 PM
Quote from: van from Arkansas on September 08, 2019, 08:13:13 PM
Agree with Jim. Xerox, even the best of experienced eyes can easily miss visual of a queen. I hope your queen is fine, OK.

Van

My 16 year old eyes are already failing I found her today!

Good deal. Did you find any more queen cells?

Donovan J · September 09, 2019, 12:04:28 PM

Quote from: Ben Framed on September 09, 2019, 07:13:23 AM
Quote from: Xerox on September 08, 2019, 11:38:09 PM
Quote from: van from Arkansas on September 08, 2019, 08:13:13 PM
Agree with Jim. Xerox, even the best of experienced eyes can easily miss visual of a queen. I hope your queen is fine, OK.

Van

My 16 year old eyes are already failing I found her today!

Good deal. Did you find any more queen cells?

No I didn't. They finally realized its too late for a queen to mate with fall only three weeks away.