will older field bees return to new hive after merger?

[Loonerone]

I have a hive that hasn't had brood for 5 weeks - new queen did not produce eggs, so assume she is dead. No laying worker eggs found.

I don'[t want to let the hive just sit while the bees die out as that may result in wax moth, SHB and robbing...so I was thinking of merging, but then wonder if the field bees will return to the new hive which is 2 feet away from their hive - or will they just try to find their old hive and so not become part of the new hive?

I'm also not convinced the newspaper trick as a merge gives much time for acclimation - our bees ate through the newspaper in just a few hours in a different situation.

Thank you!

[AR Beekeeper]

Even if the field bees do not join the new colony you will save the frames of comb. Some times our choices are few and we must choose between the lesser of two evils.

If the colony with no queen has all boxes and stand removed the field bees will drift into other colonies. Join the two colonies with newspaper, place a board in front of the entrance so the bees must reorient.

You are correct, the newspaper method of joining does not work 100% of the time but it is the safest method I know of.

[Brent Bean]

Being that close they will combine with the new hive. As long as they are returning with nectar or pollen the new hive will except them without a fight.

[wcubed]

The above posts answer your question, but let me add a couple of comments about the colony status. Five weeks is unduly long for the supercedure process, but weather can extend the period. Reports from the northeast imply an unduly rainy season.

The virgin queen is not going on a mating flight in threatening weather - it doesn't have to be actively raining. A mating flight sometimes takes several hours. To head out, she wants optimum conditions. Low clouds do not qualify. If she was delayed in mating by less than sunny conditions, that delay will be reflected in the delay in egg production.

The literature says that the queen must mate in 6 days or be a dud. Just not true. Don't know how that data was derived, but observation indicates that weather can and does influance that period.

If you want to confirm that the colony is hopelessly queenless, check the brood nest for filling up with nectar. You should have field nectar now. The colony with a queen in development will hold the brood nest open for the replacement queen.

Walt
Free advice is often overpriced.

[Mathispollenators]

If the hive is queenless you have also the option of placing a frame of fresh brood and eggs from the other hive to save that one. Doing that shake the bees from that frame into their hive and put the egg and brood frames into the queenless hive. The bees will then have brood and eggs to raise their own queen. If the other hive is strong I think that is what I would do.

[Loonerone]

Great information - thank you.

The brood nest area is filled with nectar and has been throughout - from supercedure to introducing a new queen - perhaps that is what has kept any laying workers from laying.

Our weather has been terrible and the bees have not yet drawn all comb in the 2nd deep, much less brought in winter stores - and with few bees remaining, I decided not to give them a frame of brood - it is too late in the season and we are predicted to get more rain in August. I'd rather join them and keep the frames for next year - and some frames of honey in the 1st deep can then be fed to the overwintered bees (so I don't have to give sugar water).

I am confused by the comment "put a board over the entrance" - do you mean lay a board across the top like a roof or close the entrance reducer? Thank you!

[AR Beekeeper]

You lean a board, tree branches or anything else over the entrance to cause the bees to have to fly around the obstruction when they enter or leave the hive. This causes them to reorient on the hive location.