Unfertilized eggs in queen cell?

Greg Peck · April 14, 2008, 08:41:33 AM

I have a hive that appears to be queen less and is very weak. I checked it the other day and there were no eggs or larva or brood and I did not see the queen. I checked it yesterday and found a queen cell (just one) about an inch down from the top of the frame. Inside was a larva so it appears that they are raising a queen. Being that there is no other brood does this make sense. Being that they are so week I guess is it possible that they were not able to keep the other brood warm and everything else died. Seems like I would be seeing at least a few larva around but I dont see any.

Thank

JP · April 14, 2008, 10:04:44 AM

They are doing their best to make a new queen with whatever eggs the last laying queen left. I would put a brood frame or two in this hive to help them along, if the one queen cell you are seeing doesn't work out.

...JP

Cindi · April 14, 2008, 11:08:10 AM

Sean, it sounds like the egg in the queen cell may have been laid by a worker. The previous queen's eggs would have already hatched. If you are seeing an egg, with no other eggs, larvae or brood, then it must be a laying worker bee. That would be an unfertilized egg. Do you have a frame of eggs, larvae & brood with adhering bees? If so, give that to this colony. If not, purchase another queen or unite this colony with another one. I would probably unite the colony if it were me. Good luck, have a great day, Cindi

Greg Peck · April 14, 2008, 09:40:56 PM

Thanks for the input JP and Cindi. I was thinking about it today and I think I have decided to unite this hive with another week hive I have. I had planed on just letting both week hives build up but I think I will be better off combining them and maybe splitting them once they get established. I dont think either of them have the numbers to keep brood warm in the cool nights we have been having.

If anyone else has any input I would still appreciate it.

Thanks again.

Michael Bush · April 14, 2008, 11:22:46 PM

Two references to unfertilized eggs in queen cells:

http://www.bushfarms.com/huber.htm#maleeggsinroyalcells
http://www.bushfarms.com/huber.htm#onlymaleeggs

Cindi · April 15, 2008, 01:05:06 AM

Michael, ah, Francis Huber's letters. I have bookmarked both these links and I have every intention of some day reading all his writings. His fashion of writing is very nice to listen to, I love his way he writes, it makes me feel like I am right there beside him, beautiful. One day, I will have that time to do that extra reading. Beautiful and wonderful life. Cindi

Michael Bush · April 15, 2008, 07:52:12 AM

I have seen laying worker hives raise queen cells. I have even seen them capped. I have never seen them emerge. The bees tear them back down eventually.

Cindi · April 15, 2008, 10:35:51 AM

Michael, I think I was reading in Huber's letter that he said the queen cells that have worker eggs laid in them were torn down (according to his observations) on the third day after capping, the bees did that consistently. That was some very interesting reading and I can't wait to read his letters when that time comes. Beautiful day, beautiful life. Cindi