Queenless ?'s

[Dange]

I have a hive that was from a split.  The queen was laying great then the hive decided to supercede her which I allowed.  The new queen hatched 2-3 weeks ago.  I checked the hive last night and no eggs, larvae, or queen present. I seen her a week and a half ago. The only thing there was pissy bees. I believe she may never mated or was very poorly mated.  My plan is to take a frame of eggs and larvae from one of my strong hives.  My question is if they are truely queenless how long will it take to see queen rearing activities take place? Also do I remove the nurse bees off the frame from the hive I am removing them from or keep them on and put in this hive?

Thanks!

[BeeMaster2]

It will take almost a month before a new queen from eggs will be laying. Yes you take the nurse bees, They do not have a problem moving from hive to hive. The field bees do.
Take the frame, place it in a empty super, the field bees will fly back and then after 20 minutes, put it in your hive. I recommend you see if a LOCAL beek has any queens for sale. Preferably one that does not treat the hives.
Jim

[BlueBee]

A larvae supposedly must be 3 days old, or younger, to be turned into a new queen.  So if they're going to make one, you should see it quickly.  As for adding a new frame with eggs and brood, Jim's got a good plan as long as long as it isn't too cold.  He's also right that you're looking at another month of waiting for them to have a new laying queen.  Your hive will continue to dwindle during that time if you don't add some brood.

[iddee]

""My question is if they are truely queenless how long will it take to see queen rearing activities take place?""

24 to 48 hours, you should have queen cups with larva in them.

[Dange]

Thanks.  I may try the frame exchange due to the fact that I have a great mutt queen.  I would be stealing a frame from her.  I called a BK in my area to see if he has any spare queens.  So my decision will be made up tonight.  I just dont like the gambling portion of weather, mated well, or doesnt make it back from mating flight that worries me.

[BeeMaster2]

""My question is if they are truely queenless how long will it take to see queen rearing activities take place?""

24 to 48 hours, you should have queen cups with larva in them.

Some times they cannot make a queen with older larvae. They will wait until eggs hatch and make queens from them. I saw this happen after a swarm. None of the q cells survived but luckily they had fresh eggs that they ended up using a couple of days later. It was a long time before we had eggs in that hive and the hive was down to just a handful of bees.