Re: 1st year questions

The first batch of swarms were definitely confirmed with 6-8 empty
cups and missing marked queens in all three hives.  The laying worker
was diagnosed by the random pattern of just drone cells - no worker
brood.  We actually saw the virgin queen on this hive but she never
took for some reason - I'm assuming lost on mating flight.

The second swarm (of the two remaining hives - in October) was
confirmed again by missing marked queens (we remarked all the queens
after the first swarm) and the presence of empty queen cups in the
hive that successfully requeened.  None in the one that did not
requeen.  I suppose something elso could have killed the queen (I did
find a bunch of dead bees in front of this hive around this time) but
I still ended up with the same brood pattern (only drone cells and
random pattern) to indicate a laying worker and no queen.

They have successfully been combined and the hive looks strong - still
feeding.

As I understand, the queens and packages that came in this spring from
GA had a high tendency to swarm this year.  That's why I want to
requeen everything next spring.

Its warm today and for the next few days - I think I'll die if they
decide to swarm again.

Eric



On 20 Nov 2003 17:39:47 -0800, [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Ken) wrote:

>I'm only 5 years at this, so you'll get better advice from others but
>2 laying workers seems strange to me.  Did they swarm or abscond?  Did
>you find empty queen cells?  Why do think they swarmed?  Overcrowded? 
>Even with a swarm I've always had lots of bees left (since only half
>the hive leaves).  It's true it takes a while for the new queen to
>have her mating flight & start laying.  Did you feed the nucs like
>crazy to get some foundation built up for 'em?  At 5 years I've had
>several swarms (and sometimes not known it 'til later) but I've never
>had to combine hives.