Queen with clipped wing

[dulley]

I recently lost a queen and had to buy a new one quickly. The only one Kelley Bee had left was a marked queen with a clipped wing so I got it. I have six hives. I let my bees swarm in the spring because I am more interested in creating new wild hives than in maximizing honey production. Will this new queen with a clipped wing grow a full wing back so she can swarm next spring? If not, what happens when the bees decide to swarm next spring and the existing queen is unable to fly? You can contact me at my email address if you wish - jimdulley@yahoo.com.

Thanks very much.

[D Coates]

Nope. The idea of clipping the wing is so they can't swarm, because the queen can't fly. With that understanding and your interest in creating swarms for the wild you may want to use her as an nuc starter or some other non-swarming activity.

[mike haney]

they'll swarm without her. once they realize she cant fly, they'll return and wait for a virgin to hatch and swarm with her.