Fwd: [madbees] queen cell

[GBle...@aol.com]

So back in May I added three frames of eggs/larvae to this hive.  I checked back the first part of June and there were several queen cells.  I left the hive alone for 3 weeks and just checked back and the bees were as calm as could be and there were several frames of new eggs and larvae and all of the drone cells and funky looking laying patterns were gone.  To top it off they filled an entire super with honey.  Thanks for your suggestions!

 

---

From: GBle...@aol.com
To: mad...@googlegroups.com
Sent: 5/17/2016 10:07:38 A.M. Central Daylight Time
Subj: Re: [madbees] queen cell

 

Thank you Joe!  Your help and those of others is what makes this club so valuable.

 

In a message dated 5/17/2016 9:51:20 A.M. Central Daylight Time, jbes...@hotmail.com writes:

I can't assume from what you've shared here that you have laying workers just yet.   This mostly depends on whether there's still a queen in the hive or not, whether she's still laying or not, and whether some of eggs are being fertilized or not.
 
Both laying workers and a queen laying unfertilized eggs will generate drone brood in worker cells.  A queen will usually lay decent pattern of eggs, while laying workers will scatter the eggs and frequently lay multiple eggs in some cells.   Question:  when did you last see your queen?  Or, when did you last see a decent pattern of eggs/larvae in the hive?  If your queen has been gone more than 1-2 weeks, then your queen cell can't be viable.
 
The over-sized drone larva in worker cells will get capped with a domed cap vs. worker caps being flat in comparison.  Question:  do you see any capped cells that look like they could be workers?   If not, then your chances of that queen cell being viable are very slim.
 
You can give them a two frames of brood AND wait to see if that queen cell emerges, and that is what I would do if you intend to keep this hive going.   The brood will provide nurse bees if your queen cell is viable, it will repress laying workers, and it will aid in the introduction of a queen if you decide to do so or give the colony another chance to raise a queen if your queen cell is not viable.   Also, if the colony starts queen cells from that brood frame, it suggests they could be hopelessly queenless.  If a queen emerges from that cell they'll likely just be torn down.  There's a lot of upside to giving frames of brood.
 
Joe
 

---

From: mad...@googlegroups.com
Date: Tue, 17 May 2016 10:20:04 -0400
Subject: Re: [madbees] queen cell
To: mad...@googlegroups.com

I went in last night and looked up pictures on google and I am afraid the wonky looking brood looks like it is from a drone layer.  At this point,  I guess I should wait and see what happens with the queen cell that is in there,  or will the laying workers kill the queen when she emerges? From what I read if you give them a couple of frames of brood and eggs,  the chemical reaction with the pheromones from the larva will slowly shut down the ovaries from the laying workers.  Otherwise, the hive still has a TON of over wintered bees in it.

 

In a message dated 5/17/2016 8:37:53 A.M. Central Daylight Time, jbes...@hotmail.com writes:

I generally consider it a poor choice to scrape off supersedure cells unless I intend to re-queen the hive.  The bees are telling me the queen is failing.
 
Also, you might want to have a backup plan in place in case that cell doesn't produce a viable queen.    Plus, they may have started that cell with an older larva, so her quality could be in question.   If you want to let nature take it's course, give them 8-9 days and check it again to see a queen has emerged from that cell.   If you didn't see workers tending the cell it's often a sign that it's not viable.   Also, if the really weird brood pattern happens to be from a drone layer, they may not be able to raise a viable queen, but they often try anyway...
 
If you want them to raise a queen and have other hives, I'd give them a frame or several of brood with larva and eggs.  The hive is getting a really late start but there's ample opportunity to observe and learn.  Perhaps you could take some photos and share with the group too.
 
Joe
 

 

---

From: mad...@googlegroups.com
Date: Mon, 16 May 2016 20:51:25 -0400
Subject: [madbees] queen cell
To: mad...@googlegroups.com

I don't know if you remember but I was at the last bee meeting and was the guy who mentioned that I had some really weird brood pattern and I had taken scrape off one queen cell all by itself that was capped on a top frame.  I have not had a chance to check that hive until today again and the brood is really scattered looking and there is again ONE capped queen cell in the middle of one frame.  I left it alone and closed it up.  The bees inside were really cranky.  I am assuming this is a supersedure queen cell?

 

Glenn

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "madbees" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to madbees+u...@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "madbees" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to madbees+u...@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "madbees" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to madbees+u...@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "madbees" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to madbees+u...@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.