Huge Queen

[Michael Bush]

I purchased several Russian queens from Walter T. Kelly and I introduced them to sevarl splits. Most of those Russians, and the queens in package bees that I purchase, both Carnolians and Italians, and the feral bees, have been happy to lay in 4.95mm cells on my wax coated PermaComb. However, I inspected one split today and saw no brood at all. After examining the queen I found her to be huge. By huge I mean her abdomen is about 5/16" in diameter. This is about 6.4mm! In the other hives the queens seem to PREFER the smaller cell to lay in. This one can't lay in it. Has anyone else seen a queen this large? She must be more than 1 1/4" long.

Since all of my hives are on small cell, I don't really have a use for her, but I am astounded by her size.

Any suggestions as to what to do with her? Otherwise, I guess I'll squish her and requeen.

[Clayton]

Hi Micheal,

I had such a queen caught in swam bait hive 2 years ago from neighbors yards. I was astounded by her size. As no such sized queens have been in my possesion before as my cell sizing before converting to 4.9 was aprox. 5.2. This queen landed into 5.2 combs. I let the colony build up a good population into a single deep (don't bother adding 4.9 at this time as they just butcher it as bad as can be). Once 5.2 brood emerged I squashed her and let the bees replace her and the new queen has sized down to a more natural size (in my POV). So you could put this queen onto 5.1 to 5.2 cells and do the same. Snuff and let the bees replace. I went through all that Micheal and the bees just never drew 4.9 properly. Was one of those colonies that just couldn't do it. It died out that winter (it was a mild one too). If it were me I'd try to get whatever possible to make the cut who knows........but if you are strapped for time then maybe better off being done with her. I guess the choice is yours.

Clay

[Michael Bush]

I'll probably replace her now. I've got all the rest on the 4.95mm wax coated permacomb and they are all doing very well and the queens not only accept it but seem to prefer it. I was curious if anyone else had seen anything like her.

[Michael Bush]

I started a dispsol for old queens. I put her in a jar of alchohol and I'll keep adding any culls and replacements to make swarm pheromone. http://www.beesource.com/ubb/smile.gif

[Clayton]

Good idea!

[Michael Bush]

It was Dee's idea (or at least she shared the idea), but I liked it.