QUEENS CELLS

papabear · May 06, 2007, 11:23:27 AM

I opened my two hives yesterday one was almost full. 2 deeps honey,eggs,capped brood. During the inspection there were 4 queen cells total on 4 frames but they were in the middle of the frames. Is this swarm cells or supercedure cells. I put on a super to give them more room. Am I too late on stopping a swarm?

romduck · May 06, 2007, 11:38:50 AM

It sounds like swarm cells not only because of the location, but also because of the situation.

There are certainly diffferent thoughts on whether to try and stop it (I side with the "too late now" theory once it has started) or to split them if you have the equipment to do so. Using option #2 allows them to "swarm" right to where you want them too.

Of course there is a balance between giving them too much room (hard for them to patrol for enemies, clean and keep warm) and not giving them enough BEFORE they need it.

Michael Bush · May 06, 2007, 11:48:00 AM

Is the brood nest growing or contracting? Are they out of room? I'd probably put them in nucs to get queens and then see what the hive does. If it seems to be in need of a queen, you may want to reintroduce one of those. If it starts new queen cells, it may be planning to swarm.

papabear · May 06, 2007, 11:53:11 AM

There were lots of capped brood and honey and only one frame with maybe half of it with eggs. It looks to me that they are out of room. There is uncapped and capped honey on every frame.

Michael Bush · May 06, 2007, 08:10:01 PM

>There were lots of capped brood and honey and only one frame with maybe half of it with eggs.

Then I would go with the swarm theory and do splits. You can recombine after the "Swarm fever" leaves them.

http://www.bushfarms.com/beessplits.htm
http://www.bushfarms.com/beesswarmcontrol.htm

Jerrymac · May 06, 2007, 11:35:48 PM

Quote from: romduck on May 06, 2007, 11:38:50 AM
It sounds like swarm cells not only because of the location, but.....

I thought swarm cells were on the bottom of the frame. :?

Brian D. Bray · May 07, 2007, 06:10:49 PM

Queen cells in the middle of the frame are most often supercedure cells. Swarm cells are usually build on the bottoms and ends of frames. Also in swarm situation they will build 6-10, or more, queen cells whereas with a supercedure they will build less than 6. Supercedure cells will run from 1-6 depending on how the bees feel about the current queen and the vitality of the eggs selected for development.

Follow MB's advise and make a nuc or 2 from some of the extra queen cells for emergency situations. If you don't want to use self reared queens you can buy a queen to replace the 1 being superceded. During certain times of the year destroying the queen cells can lead to disaster--this is 1 of those times of year--it is called swarm season. Note: supercedure is more likely to occur during swarm season than at any other time. Don't get confused and managed you bees to your advantage; develop an extra queen or 2 you'll be glas you did and you'll have learned how to avoid one of the most common problems in beekeeping.