balling of the queen
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I don't have an answer, I'm adding to your question because I had the same thing happen a couple weeks ago. I was inspecting a couple of my backyard hives when I saw a ball of bees in front of one of the hives I'd inspected. I moved bees to find a queen in the middle being attacked. I put her in a queen catcher and took her in the house, into a mesh bug holder with a couple other bees from a different hive. They did not attack her, but she died the next morning. The hive she was in front of still has a laying queen, so I have no idea where she came from.
My only guess is that they superseded her from a different hive I'd inspected. In fact, a different hive that had a failing queen, that same inspection I captured that queen because I saw a supercedure cell. That second queen was quite large, and now I wonder if I captured a newly mated queen from the hive and the balled queen was it's old queen. Does that make sense?
In any case, I suspect but I don't know for sure, that the balled queen was being superseded. I hope some experts answer these questions.
My only guess is that they superseded her from a different hive I'd inspected. In fact, a different hive that had a failing queen, that same inspection I captured that queen because I saw a supercedure cell. That second queen was quite large, and now I wonder if I captured a newly mated queen from the hive and the balled queen was it's old queen. Does that make sense?
In any case, I suspect but I don't know for sure, that the balled queen was being superseded. I hope some experts answer these questions.
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If there are queen cells or any other queen present they will ball any queen you attempt to introduce. Carefully search for queen cells it's easy to miss one that has not been capped or has just been started.
she emerged like 2 weeks ago (in the same hive) and just started to lay eggs some days ago and today i noticed the balling
How often are you in the hive? Its best to leave them alone until there is open brood. After a split, I wouldn't check on them for 3 or 4 weeks. Disturbing them too much can cause them to blame the queen and ball her.
Wait until 3 days after you saw eggs and then release her. At that point there should be open brood and the workers will be more accepting.
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Sounds more as to what zhiv9 has stated. If they're not stinging the cage but feeding her through the screen you can probably release her. Safest to wait like zhiv9 says.
thanks - i was opening the hive once a week to see that all is ok and to provide syrup
so i will open again in 3 days time to check if they accepted her
i forgot to mention that they were also making 2 queens cells with larva in
so i will open again in 3 days time to check if they accepted her
i forgot to mention that they were also making 2 queens cells with larva in
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If there's queen cells present they may still ball her. Just a word of caution. You may consider making up another nuc with her or just let nature run it's course.
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