Queen Outside the Hive???

[EvaST-B]

One of my hives had a bunch of dead and dying bees out front. Looking closer, I found yet more dead under the hive. I looked under the screened bottom board and there was a cluster of bees in one corner (Under the screen, not inside the hive), so I took the whole hive (two deeps and a top feeder) apart for the first time in probably six months. There, under the SBB, was a big fat queen.

I got her in a queen catcher, put the hive back together, and put her on the top bar of the top box. One bee tried to fight her and she shrugged her off and just walked calmly down between the frames. The bees seemed calm this whole time - none flying up at me, no one trying to sting, just well mannered little ladies letting me take their home apart. And when it was all done, I looked at the entrance and lots of foragers were coming in loaded with pollen. One or two fights on the landing board though.

Why would she be out of the hive and under there? Or was she not the queen of that hive????

[Dave W]

>Why would she be out of the hive and under there? Or was she not the queen of that hive????

Both questions could have been answered by doing inspections more often than every "six months". :)

[vajerzy]

Perhaps a small swarm took up residence underneath your hive?

[chandler]

I'm assuming that you didn't find the queen when you did your inspection. From what I've read, queens have no interest in being outside the hive unless they are swarming. May not have been your queen, but it is now.. :)