new fall queens?

[heidip]

Hi anyone know where one can get a new queen, this late in the year - i know there are waitlists everywhere?? I had the strangest occurence today...went out to feed and medicate my bees for fall..and saw a queen (presumably mine) walking around very slowly on a blade of grass (yes it's definitely a queen)...I'm thinking she's from my 1 hive...but won't know for a few days...as there were eggs in the hive today. So I'll check again in 3 days...but I wondering if there's anywhere at this late in the season I can get a queen - russian preferably..but I'm not going to be picky, just someone to get my girls through the winter?...has anyone else ever discovered a queen all by herself? She wasn't dead, but moving incredibly slow..so I hesitate to reintroduce her to the hive - as I'm not 100% sure she's mine (i keep saying that), I don't think she's well - hardly moving and she was out of the hive for a reason..I just think it's very peculiar!????  :(

[Michael Bush]

The bees may have already resolved that and one of the virgins or the old queen ended up outside.  If you had a real boomer of a hive, it's possible there was a mother/daughter pair in it and the mother just got run out.  I'd make sure they are queenless before you panic.  Look for eggs, but remember they may have quit laying this time of year too.  Look for a queen.  Marked or unmarked.  Before you even open up, listen to the hum.  A queenless hive usually has a dissonant keening sound to it or sometimes a roar.  A queenright hive is usually a harmonious hum unless it's being robbed or is upset about something.

If they are indeed queenless, and if you indeed can't find a queen, you can combine them with a queenright hive for the winter and split them in the spring.  A queenless hive is unlikely to make it through the winter.

[Brian D. Bray]

It might be possible to get Hawaiian or Australian queens this late.  The problem with Australian queens is that quanity is a must due to import requirements.  No exporter/importer is going to want to fool around with 1 or 2 queens.  However, if you know of someone who's buying five or six hundred to build nucs in preperation for the California almond pollination you might get a few there.

[Michael Bush]

I had them up until last week.  I've shipped them as late as November before when the weather was warm.  But I'm out.  Someone might have one if you post that you're looking here and on beesource.

But the real issue is whether or not you need one.