Running bees

[papabear]

What does it mean when you open a hive (that is a split with hopefully a virgin queen,open queen cells) and the bees seem like they are all running to the top of the frame. Which ever way I turn the frame,they still run to the top. How long will it be before i see eggs?

[tig]

genetics play a factor.  some queens carry the gene whch make them "runny" and undesirable. i have some colonies that are runny and they aren't easy to manage.  i plan to cull those queens when i get replacements and after the honeyflow is over....sometime in june.

if you can locate the queen, observe if she, herself, is runny. it's like the whole colony has a nervous disposition!

[JP]

I wouldn't worry about a hive like this unless they are showing aggressive traits. If they make you honey and are strong, but not aggressive, why, you have a good hive there.


...JP

[Scadsobees]

It means that you will have a harder time finding the queen, especially if unmarked, in that hive. 

I don't usually have too much trouble finding the queen, but on one hive they were runny and I think that queen was a magician!!  As soon as I'd open the hive, she'd disappear!

If that is a problem for you, then requeen at your leisure. No hurry, like JP said, it isn't a production problem.

Rick