Uh oh. Don't think this is good....

josbees · May 17, 2008, 02:54:53 PM

Just did my first inspection and I was so proud of myself for doing it by the book, staying calm and not upsetting the girls. However it looks like I've got missing queens. In both hives the cage was lying on the bottom board. The first cage was empty and when I studied the frames I could see no sign of eggs, though the girls are bringing pollen in. The first cage has what looks like a dead queen inside. She was certainly not moving. The cage had been opened and a couple of girls were in there too and I couldn't see if she was marked cos they were in the way. Again, there were workers flying about with pollen.

Do you all think my queens are gone/dead? If so, could I get new ones?

I appreciate your input.

annette · May 17, 2008, 06:17:13 PM

It is to soon to see the eggs so give it some time. The cage that was empty probably had a queen released and you cannot see the eggs yet. Give it time. They are probably fine.

The other hive with the dead queen. Firstly, I would remove the cage and empty out the supposed dead queen and see if she is marked and figure out if she is actually the queen. the dead bee may not be the queen. You have to get in there and really look.

Do this first then report back to this forum.

do not worry, You may be fine with this.

Annette

josbees · May 17, 2008, 06:46:42 PM

Thanks! Common sense is a terrific invention! I'll go in again tomorrow and let you know what I find.

beemaster · May 17, 2008, 07:02:56 PM

Josbees:

Sounds as if you have no problem spotting eggs when present. If anyone else reading this needs a little help, I suggest you place the frame in front of you about head to check high, and stand with the sun just coming over your shoulder and shining directly into the cells.

With the sun behind you, you will get the most light into the bottom of the cells and I always go in with a good pair of dollar stor reading glasses around a 2.5X to easily focus inside the cells with great clairity.

Remember if this is a new hive, STORAGE is an issue - you need younger workers to continually build all the comb a new hive can - no sense bringing back pollen if there is no brood, but nectar held induce wax production, so you have many possibilities when starting a new hive, how old the bees are (if come by package) is really a factor in exactly how well they start out, older bees be foragers and want nothing to do with drawling comb, tending to larva, etc.

You need a perect mix of bees from egg, all the way to dying worker bee. If you have an odd mix of different aged bees, the you will likely have a noticable lull under that first generation emerges.

Michael Bush · May 17, 2008, 07:19:30 PM

If a queen is loose in the package they often kill the queen in the cage. I've never seen a package kill the queen in the cage unless they had a queen already.

As far as her laying it sometimes takes only days for the queen to start laying, but if she's been banked a while two weeks to start laying is not unusual and three is not unheard of. After that I'd say they are queenless.

josbees · May 17, 2008, 08:13:43 PM

Thanks. Yes, two new hives, so I don't know how old the girls are, but they sure are active.

I was wearing my cheaters under my veil so that I could see and was in the "correct position" to get a proper look, after having read all your directions for the first inspection, so I think I'm on the right track. Of course, wearing the glasses makes my nose run for some reason -- what's the trick for wiping your nose through the veil?

But thanks you guys. I will go in tomorrow around noon when most of the girls are out working and give it another try. I'll take out that cage and get the body out for a closer look.

You are the best. I'm so glad I found this forum!

Michael Bush · May 18, 2008, 07:38:58 PM

>what's the trick for wiping your nose through the veil?

Let me know if you figure that out...

Moonshae · May 18, 2008, 07:51:17 PM

Quote from: Michael Bush on May 18, 2008, 07:38:58 PM
>what's the trick for wiping your nose through the veil?

Let me know if you figure that out...

Keep a tissue inside your veil. :)

randydrivesabus · May 18, 2008, 07:59:35 PM

when you figure out the nose issue figure out one for the sweat on eyeglasses.

josbees · May 18, 2008, 08:05:35 PM

So if I have a tissue inside the veil, I guess I'd use my teeth to maneouver it into place and my extended tongue to do the wiping with it....... ;)

Brian D. Bray · May 19, 2008, 12:26:12 AM

Quote from: randydrivesabus on May 18, 2008, 07:59:35 PM
when you figure out the nose issue figure out one for the sweat on eyeglasses.

Terrycloth head band, you know, like the tennis player wear.
And a snot rag tucked into the v of the collar lets you clear your sinuses.

Scadsobees · May 19, 2008, 09:37:06 AM

Quotewhat's the trick for wiping your nose through the veil?

Farmer blow. Just make sure to use one of the sides of the veil that you don't look through, the spots can get distracting, then everything looks like a honeybee egg. :roll:

poka-bee · May 19, 2008, 01:51:31 PM

Quote from: Scadsobees on May 19, 2008, 09:37:06 AM
Quotewhat's the trick for wiping your nose through the veil?

Farmer blow. Just make sure to use one of the sides of the veil that you don't look through, the spots can get distracting, then everything looks like a honeybee egg. :roll:

EEWWWWW! Make sure you do your OWN laundry!

josbees · May 19, 2008, 04:13:00 PM

I'll need to practice....

Dane Bramage · May 19, 2008, 05:03:58 PM

hahaha this thread was surprisingly educational... and not at all what I was expecting either.

I could have used that sweat band lately with the record heat wave we had through here!

derrick1p1 · May 19, 2008, 06:31:12 PM

I agree, why haven't I thought of a sweatband? doh!