What happens to a nectar-bound queen?

AliciaH · August 11, 2010, 10:44:02 AM

I usually just add more foundation if a queen is getting bound; built-out if I have it, new if I don't.

But, I was wondering, what happens to a queen if nothing is done at all? Will they clear space for her? Will they supersede her?

D Coates · August 11, 2010, 11:08:22 AM

She'll leave with a swarm. Congestion really seems to set them off on the swarm "warpath." Active swarm cells tells you the story of what she's thinking of. Even given more space, if the queen has her mind set on swarming you're best off pulling that queen with 2 or 3 frames of brood, bees, pollen, and honey for a nuc. It makes the hive think it's swarmed and scratches their itch. Let the remaining hive make it's own queen from the swarm cells and you've got a new queen for the next year as well as a nuc with the old queen.

FRAMEshift · August 11, 2010, 11:09:14 AM

That's the classic sign of a hive getting ready to swarm. The next sign would be queen cells on the bottom or outside edge of a frame. Adding frames in the middle of the brood nest is the right thing to do.

FRAMEshift · August 11, 2010, 11:21:05 AM

Quote from: D Coates on August 11, 2010, 11:08:22 AM
She'll leave with a swarm. Congestion really seems to set them off on the swarm "warpath." Active swarm cells tells you the story of what she's thinking of. Even given more space, if the queen has her mind set on swarming you're best off pulling that queen with 2 or 3 frames of brood, bees, pollen, and honey for a nuc. It makes the hive think it's swarmed and scratches their itch. Let the remaining hive make it's own queen from the swarm cells and you've got a new queen for the next year as well as a nuc with the old queen.

It's not really what the queen has in mind. She's just an egg layer, despite the monarchical nomenclature. It's the HIVE MIND (queue the eerie music) :-D that decides. It's not the queen that chooses to fill in the brood nest with nectar. The hive as a whole decides times are good and a swarm is in order. They accumulate uncapped honey in the brood nest to provide ready supplies for the departing swarm. The only sign of the queen's influence is that if she does not leave with the swarm, they will come back to the hive.

Adding empty frames in the brood nest will (if done early enough) convince the hive mind that they have work to do before considering a swarm. We recently stopped a swarm by adding empty foundationless frames to the center of a brood nest AFTER they had capped several swarm cells. They tore out the queen cells and started drawing the new frames.

beee farmer · August 11, 2010, 04:08:20 PM

Re: What happens to a nectar-bound queen?

More fiber in her diet might help. :-D

AliciaH · August 11, 2010, 05:46:37 PM

Quote from: beee farmer on August 11, 2010, 04:08:20 PM
Re: What happens to a nectar-bound queen?

More fiber in her diet might help. :-D

LOL!!!

Okay, I'll keep an eye out if I get close again. I've found supersedure cells in hives that were close to being nectar bound and thought maybe the bees were blaming the queen, but I hadn't considered swarming.

Thanks, everyone!

Michael Bush · August 11, 2010, 11:29:25 PM

If they want her to lay they will clear space for her. If they don't they will fill it with nectar. If they don't, it's because they are either winding down for the fall or they are preparing to swarm.

hardwood · August 12, 2010, 12:12:15 AM

A honey bound queen will simply shut down...they don't always swarm. The swarming depends more on what's happening as far as weather, flows etc. It is simply one more impetus (of many) to swarm.

Scott

FRAMEshift · August 12, 2010, 10:05:23 AM

Quote from: hardwood on August 12, 2010, 12:12:15 AM
a honey bound queen will simply shut down...they don't always swarm. The swarming depends more on what's happening as far as weather, flows etc. It is simply one more impetus (of many) to swarm.
Scott

Well, that's a good point. Does feeding sugar affect swarming behavior the same way flow does?