Empty Queen Cells

NigelP · April 26, 2022, 06:26:19 AM

Weirdest thing yesterday. 2 hives had queen cells at various stages (non capped), but not a single larvae was present in any of the charged cells.
Another 2 did have queen cells with larvae and were dealt with appropriately.
It's a strange start to the UK season, nearly everything is early. Had my first swarm 2 weeks ago....that caught me out. Late May/June is usually UK prime swarming time. Some hives have supers nearly capped and ready to harvest. Never had honey harvested in April before!

BeeMaster2 · April 26, 2022, 08:29:14 AM

Nigel,
Were the queen cells capped?
If so, you may have a queenless hive. Removing all of the queen cells is not recommended. Even if the queen cells are not capped, the bees may have already decided to swarm and do so even after you remove the queen cells. Then if you are lucky, they have to start making a new queen from any larvae available. Now instead of having a new queen just about ready to hatch, they are just starting to make a new queen. If you went in again and removed the queen cells with out seeing the queen they may not bee able to make a new queen.
Jim Altmiller

NigelP · April 26, 2022, 10:57:40 AM

Quote from: BeeMaster2 on April 26, 2022, 08:29:14 AM
Nigel,
Were the queen cells capped?

Jim Altmiller

Only one was capped and that was simply filled with royal jelly. Queens were present in both hives as were eggs and BIAS.

NigelP · April 27, 2022, 07:34:09 AM

Now hearing of several other UK beekeepers who are experiencing the exact same scenario of queen cells filled with royal jelly only.
Probably weather related, we had a warm spell followed by a quite cold spell, max 9C forecast for most of the week.

BeeMaster2 · April 27, 2022, 09:22:44 AM

Nigel,
They may bee removing the queen larvae especially if there is no food coming in.
Jim Altmiller

NigelP · April 27, 2022, 01:05:48 PM

Possibly Jim, but there has been a reasonable flow until the cold weather hit this week. There is no shortage of stores or pollen in any of the hives. Just strange 2/4 in the same apiary didn't have embryos in the queen cells. And strange that it's now happened to at least three other beekeepers I know and in different arteas (micro-climates).
But that's bees for you.....

BeeMaster2 · April 27, 2022, 02:30:47 PM

The bees can not afford to swarm if the flow has stopped before they left. They need a major food supply to build a new home and feed a large brood area and stock up on reserves. If the flow stopped, they will not survive at the new location.
Jim Altmiller

TheHoneyPump · April 27, 2022, 07:05:56 PM

Just sounds to me like swarm preparations that have been halted due to weather and to be resumed when good warm conditions return.
In other words, they were getting started and aborted by simply removing the larvae. Put some kind of mark on those hives and go back to them when it warms again. Chances are they will restart the shenanigans.