Hive Keeps Swarming

The15thMember · May 03, 2019, 07:28:37 PM

Quote from: TheHoneyPump on May 03, 2019, 07:11:09 PM
The drones smell the virgin(s). They will frequent that hive and may even make it home until the VQ(s) are mated. I cannot say if they try to coax the VQ(s) out to play or not. It is common though for a hive that is 'normal' to suddenly have a mass of drones show up and loiter. That usually an indication of ripe queen cells or VQ(s) nearing their time to play.

For your hive, it means to me that you do not have a laying queen yet.

All right, good to know. So it could be an indication that she's getting close to a mating flight. Thanks, HP.

The15thMember · May 09, 2019, 07:30:15 PM

It's been two weeks, so I went into the swarmy hive today. Not looking good in there. I saw no queen and no eggs, and the hive is like 80% drones. Unless she was hanging around in the slatted rack, I'm almost certain that the marked queen is not in there (unless the workers cleaned off the paint.) I was really scanning for the marked queen, and with all the drones, it's possible I missed an unmarked queen. There is still a lot of drone activity around this hive. At about 3:00 every day there is an abnormal amount of drones entering the hive, like in the pictures I posted. Is this an indication that there is a virgin queen in there? Why hasn't she mated yet? Should I give them a frame of eggs and see if they make a queen? What do you guys think my next step should be with this hive?

Ben Framed · May 09, 2019, 08:38:12 PM

Member, Last fall I purchased some marked queens. The marked paint from the bee supplier did not stay on very well, looked like finger nail polish? I realized that this would soon be all off and I really wanted these queens to stayed marked for a couple reasons. To make a long story short, I bought a red painters pen , from all places, Walmart! I also bought a marking cage because I was not confident enough to handle the queens. I didn't want to damage them as no experience in handling queens. I am happy to tell you that the red dots are still just as good now as the day that I marked them. I have a easy source of marking paint that I can rely on cheap and convenient. They were $2.89 in the hobby or craft department, made by the Elmer company.
PS Yesterday, I marked 6 queens Neon Lime Green same type paint pen, and let me tell you they stick out! Very easy to see. And, I have retired the marking cage. I took the plunge and handled them by hand. So glad I did. Good luck,
Phillip

The15thMember · May 10, 2019, 07:37:13 PM

Quote from: Ben Framed on May 09, 2019, 08:38:12 PM
Member, Last fall I purchased some marked queens. The marked paint from the bee supplier did not stay on very well, looked like finger nail polish? I realized that this would soon be all off and I really wanted these queens to stayed marked for a couple reasons. To make a long story short, I bought a red painters pen , from all places, Walmart! I also bought a marking cage because I was not confident enough to handle the queens. I didn't want to damage them as no experience in handling queens. I am happy to tell you that the red dots are still just as good now as the day that I marked them. I have a easy source of marking paint that I can rely on cheap and convenient. They were $2.89 in the hobby or craft department, made by the Elmer company.
PS Yesterday, I marked 6 queens Neon Lime Green same type paint pen, and let me tell you they stick out! Very easy to see. And, I have retired the marking cage. I took the plunge and handled them by hand. So glad I did. Good luck,
Phillip

I used silver Testors model paint, and most people seem to have good success with that, but it was my first time marking, so I could have done something wrong (didn't wait long enough for it to dry, too much/too little, etc.). I think what I may do, pending any more answers of course, is I'll wait until sometime next week and then go back in again and see if I can find a queen in there. If not, I'll give them a frame of eggs and see what happens. My biggest concern is that there are so many drones in the hive, and I'm just not sure why. There was not an excess of drone brood in the hive, and there are no laying workers (at least not yet). My guess would be that the swarms didn't take many drones and so they were just all left behind in this hive, but I have no idea if that's a correct assumption. This hive is showing more mites in sugar rolls than other hives as well, but that may be from all the drones.

Ben Framed · May 10, 2019, 07:44:35 PM

Yes the paint that you used is suppose to be good for marking queens so I have read. Could be that you are right about not letting it dry completely? Just a guess. I am thinking drones are a good way for the mites to be spread around since they visit as they will and where they will. Wishing you the best .

The15thMember · May 15, 2019, 06:50:22 PM

I checked in this hive today. I went through the bottom box, and it wasn't looking good, no eggs, population lower than last weekend. Then I get up into the second box, and lo and behold, I find eggs and young larva and one frame over, a shiny new mated queen! She's not the one that we marked so we must have missed her when she was a virgin, and the marked one must have either lost the fight or swarmed. There are still a lot of drones in the hive, but there are definitely less than before, so, HoneyPump, you were right about the drone activity being a sign of a virgin in there. Thanks to everyone for the help.

TheHoneyPump · May 16, 2019, 11:46:26 AM

That is great news. Congratulations!
Next steps ... if your other hive(s) can spare a frame or two of mature capped brood, it will be very helpful to boost this hive with capped-emerging brood. New larvae plus alot of drones is taxing on the bees that are left, trying to keep them all fed.
Also check the stores level (honey). There will be a drain and strain with new brood from the new queen coming on along with a lot of drones. If there are few actual bees they will not get much foraging done as they are looking after the brood and feeding drones. Consider giving honey frames from other hives or put some 1:1 syrup feed on them. Just until you are happy that the nest has been re-established and population is growing again.
For your consideration

Hope that helps!