Virgin Queen? -Questions

Donovan J · June 21, 2019, 02:20:01 PM

This morning i went to refill the sugar syrup on my new hive when i saw a live bee being pulled out of the other hive. It got me wondering why they would pull a live bee out. I picked it up and it was walking around fine. It looked a lot like a virgin queen to me so I grabbed a queen cage and brought it inside. It started shaking and looked like it was having a seizure. I fed it some honey and it drank a little but soon started not moving. Its wings were torn a little so I think some of the queen cells inside the hive hatched and they battled it out and this one lost. Is this correct? If so, should i look in the hive for a virgin queen? If so, should I destroy other queen cells?

BeeMaster2 · June 21, 2019, 02:54:17 PM

You are probably correct, it is probably one of the queens that was not selected. I would put my ear to that hive and listen to it every day for the next couple of days. If they are removing that one there is a good chance they will did the same for the rest. If you hear queens piping I would take it apart and collect the rest of the queens and put one back.
Jim Altmiller

Donovan J · June 21, 2019, 02:59:34 PM

Quote from: sawdstmakr on June 21, 2019, 02:54:17 PM
You are probably correct, it is probably one of the queens that was not selected. I would put my ear to that hive and listen to it every day for the next couple of days. If they are removing that one there is a good chance they will did the same for the rest. If you hear queens piping I would take it apart and collect the rest of the queens and put one back.
Jim Altmiller

I didn't hear any piping. Also operation refill feeder failed. Bees are mad today

Donovan J · June 21, 2019, 05:19:22 PM

Quote from: sawdstmakr on June 21, 2019, 02:54:17 PM
You are probably correct, it is probably one of the queens that was not selected. I would put my ear to that hive and listen to it every day for the next couple of days. If they are removing that one there is a good chance they will did the same for the rest. If you hear queens piping I would take it apart and collect the rest of the queens and put one back.
Jim Altmiller

I saw them cart out another one and she looked in much better shape than the one that died. I caged her but she has a tattered wing. Will I be able to make a new hive with her? Can she still mate?

Nock · June 21, 2019, 05:39:45 PM

What does piping sound like? Are you going to take give apart and look for the other Queens?

BeeMaster2 · June 21, 2019, 06:14:52 PM

Piping is a long high frequency beep followed be 2 or 3 short beeps.
Sounds like Beeeeeeeeep beep beep beep.
You don?t need to take the hive apart if you keep seeing queens being removed and no piping. As a matter of fact with no piping I would not inspect that hive for at least 2 weeks to let the new queen get established. Inspections kill new queens. I would continue to monitor for piping.
Jim Altmiller

Donovan J · June 21, 2019, 06:30:11 PM

Quote from: sawdstmakr on June 21, 2019, 06:14:52 PM
Piping is a long high frequency beep followed be 2 or 3 short beeps.
Sounds like Beeeeeeeeep beep beep beep.
You don?t need to take the hive apart if you keep seeing queens being removed and no piping. As a matter of fact with no piping I would not inspect that hive for at least 2 weeks to let the new queen get established. Inspections kill new queens. I would continue to monitor for piping.
Jim Altmiller

Okay. I will add a honey super on Sunday to give them space and inspect the new hive Sunday as well and inspect the old hive on the 3rd

van from Arkansas · June 21, 2019, 06:31:20 PM

I would not inspect that hive for at least 2 weeks to let the new queen get established. Inspections kill new queens. I would continue to monitor for piping.
Jim Altmiller

Great advice, Jim. Xerox, Virgin queens startle easy. Take Jim?s advice, leave alone for a while.

Donovan J · June 21, 2019, 06:48:53 PM

Quote from: van from Arkansas on June 21, 2019, 06:31:20 PM
I would not inspect that hive for at least 2 weeks to let the new queen get established. Inspections kill new queens. I would continue to monitor for piping.
Jim Altmiller

Great advice, Jim. Xerox, Virgin queens startle easy. Take Jim?s advice, leave alone for a while.

Okay. I wasn't going to inspect in a while anyways

incognito · June 21, 2019, 09:37:06 PM

Quote from: Nock on June 21, 2019, 05:39:45 PM
What does piping sound like? Are you going to take give apart and look for the other Queens?

https://youtu.be/cgSJg3oa4FE

Donovan J · June 21, 2019, 10:19:18 PM

Its funny because all of the other bees freeze in place when she is doing it

Nock · June 21, 2019, 11:07:35 PM

Great video. Thanks for posting.

Donovan J · June 23, 2019, 01:54:39 AM

Update: I had a quick peek into the hive while getting a frame of drawn comb because the queen ran out of space in the split and I had a quick peek at the queen cells and they were still there. I do not think a queen has hatched yet. I think those bees they were bringing out were some kind of mutant bees that didn't develop properly. Still awaiting a queen I guess. I found more queen cells inside the split with the queen in it. I put them inside the hive i split away from. Was this a good idea? I was in a rush and there were bees everywhere and I had to make quick decisions.

Donovan J · June 23, 2019, 02:08:21 AM

I think those bees had chronic paralysis virus and therefor I thought they were queens due to the bald thorax queens usually have. Is this a problem I should be addressing?

BeeMaster2 · June 23, 2019, 11:16:48 AM

Xerox,
If you took all of the queen cells from the hive with a queen, unless you saw the queen and you know she is a good queen, I would put a queen cell or 2 back in that hive. While making splits, it is very possible the queen went airborne and did not find her way back or she went to the other hive. I had that happen to me this year.
Jim Altmiller

Donovan J · June 23, 2019, 12:36:43 PM

Quote from: sawdstmakr on June 23, 2019, 11:16:48 AM
Xerox,
If you took all of the queen cells from the hive with a queen, unless you saw the queen and you know she is a good queen, I would put a queen cell or 2 back in that hive. While making splits, it is very possible the queen went airborne and did not find her way back or she went to the other hive. I had that happen to me this year.
Jim Altmiller

I saw the queen in the hive. I think she was running out of space because I fed them and they brought it down and filled all the spaces so she had the instinct to swarm again. I gave her a partially empty frame and stopped feeding.

Donovan J · June 23, 2019, 03:40:22 PM

Quote from: sawdstmakr on June 23, 2019, 11:16:48 AM
Xerox,
If you took all of the queen cells from the hive with a queen, unless you saw the queen and you know she is a good queen, I would put a queen cell or 2 back in that hive. While making splits, it is very possible the queen went airborne and did not find her way back or she went to the other hive. I had that happen to me this year.
Jim Altmiller

What should I do about the CBPV? Is there any treatments?

BeeMaster2 · June 23, 2019, 04:42:30 PM

How many bees are showing signs of it. I?m not you even sure have a problem. Do nothing.
Jim Altmiller

AR Beekeeper · June 23, 2019, 07:22:45 PM

CBPV is a virus, and there is no treatment for the disease. It usually runs it's course and then disappears. It may reappear the following spring or it may not.

Donovan J · June 24, 2019, 01:54:07 AM

Quote from: sawdstmakr on June 23, 2019, 04:42:30 PM
How many bees are showing signs of it. I?m not you even sure have a problem. Do nothing.
Jim Altmiller

I see about one every five minutes being pulled out of the hive which I think is a good thing they are being hygienic about it. I think it will not be a major problem.