Queenless Hive

[T152]

My strongest hive became queenless about a week and a half ago, and I placed eggs and larva in there for them to make a new queen. But surprisingly, they didn't make a new queen out of them. A few days ago I placed a swarm cell in there from another hive. They didn't seem to do much with it and it isn't capped completely yet. Today I placed more in there and they weren't completely capped either. Will they do something with these? Why didn't the make one from scratch when I gave them eggs? If they don't do anything with these cells, I plan on ordering a new queen. Thanks.

[jadell]

The hive probably has a queen.

[robo mantis]

Why do you think its queenless? You just haven't seen her? Or lack of brood? Queens can be very illusive. If its lack of brood, some queens shut down laying in dearths especially if they are carniolans.

[T152]

I'm sorry, I forgot to say that there is no brood- all the frames are completely empty (except the ones I put in from another hive). We do not have a dearth here and if it helps, they are Russians. I haven't seen her either.