To increase or not

[rharlow]

So, after a dry spell (nectar that is) my bees are getting a good flow on Catalpa I think. Went in to my strongest hive (that's not saying much) and found a sealed queen cell see pic here:

https://plus.google.com/photos/11185...CKzJ0Nf0n9--Yw

Only found one sealed, although several cups, no brood, so don't think it's a swarm cell. Saw plenty of evidence of queen, from eggs to open brood, so don't think it would be emergency.

Being a nooby, I'm scared to remove, as I always want to believe that the bees know best and that perhaps they need it. Colony queen is supposedly a Russian, and small, compared to a Carni I have and a MP queen I have.

Do I remove the QC with Frame and place in a Nuc? If so, any pointers, tips on how to proceed. Not sure I want to potential disrupt the hive. Things I should watch for? Thoughts?

Thanks

Chip

[Ross]

If you have fresh eggs, nuc it. If they really need a queen, they'll make another. Take the frame with the queen cell, a frame of honey, a frame of capped brood if you can spare it. Shake some nurse bees and you have a nuc.

[MDS]

Worried that might be a supercedure cell rather than a swarm cell. If they are trying to replace the existing queen best leave it. Swarm cells are more numerous. Given how far along the queen cell is in your pick and lack of others equally mature I'm leaning towards that being a supercerdure. With those cups built where they are might even be an emergency queen.


If you move it make sure there are eggs left behind so they can raise a new queen if needed.

[rharlow]

Worried that might be a supercedure cell rather than a swarm cell. If they are trying to replace the existing queen best leave it. Swarm cells are more numerous. Given how far along the queen cell is in your pick and lack of others equally mature I'm leaning towards that being a supercerdure. With those cups built where they are might even be an emergency queen.

I'm thinking it's a supercedure cell as well, and I'm thinking the bees know best, but wanted to ask. Don't think it's an emergency cell, as I saw eggs, and so there is still a queen in hive.

[rharlow]

So, went back in yesterday and interestingly, the QC is gone. No evidence? I wrote on the frame to be sure I could re-locate. So what does this tell me? Also, another single QC (capped) is on the same frame middle to upper range, although not as long as the previous one. Still have eggs and open brood, so still an active queen. Any thoughts as to what all this is telling me?

Chip