Could be another queen in the hive, either non laying but probably virgin. Could there be an open queen cell on the edge of the comb or in some other hard to see location? Sounds like another queen is in there somewhere.
Bees not making new queen
One of my hives swarmed in later April. After about five weeks, I still saw no brood. I added a frame with eggs from another hive. After a week, they still had not started making a new queen. I did not see any evidence of a laying worker. I put in another frame of eggs and checked in four days, but no queen cell. I inspected the hive carefully and found the new swarm queen who was not laying. It had been almost seven weeks after they swarmed, so I assumed she had ovary problems and was not going to lay. I killed her and left he body in the hive and added another frame of eggs. After four days, I checked and found they started to make a new queen cell from the eggs. I checked again one week later assuming the queen cell would be capped, but the queen cell was gone. I added another frame of eggs yesterday, so I do know yet if they are going to make a new queen or not yet from that frame. I did not find another queen in the hive nor any evidence of a laying worker this time either. Has anyone ever had them start a queen cell and then tear it down? If they do not make a new queen from this frame of eggs, does that tell me there is a another non-laying queen running around in there or what?
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What Gary said.
And also, it is absence of brood that causes laying workers even if a queen is present. it is possible laying workers were present even though they were not actually laying yet. How about persist giving them brood for another 2 times, then if no joy it's time to combine as the bees are getting older & even if they eventually succeeded in making a queen by the time her larvae are hatching as bees the hive will be in a fairly bad way.
And also, it is absence of brood that causes laying workers even if a queen is present. it is possible laying workers were present even though they were not actually laying yet. How about persist giving them brood for another 2 times, then if no joy it's time to combine as the bees are getting older & even if they eventually succeeded in making a queen by the time her larvae are hatching as bees the hive will be in a fairly bad way.
I put just one frame in with eggs and I checked it thoroughly for queen cells. I made a note of exactly where the queen cell was a week before, but it was gone. If they do not make a new queen from the eggs I put in yesterday, I will have to search every frame for a queen. Thanks.
I thought if they start making a new queen cell for certain this time, I will destroy that queen cell and install a new queen. I am afraid to install a new queen now because they may just kill her.
I have been working/fighting with a similar hive situation since the hive came out of winter. No eggs...larva or capped brood. They don't make qc and if I give them one they destroy it. Not many bees now...just from repeated eggs and brood they have been given. I gave them a mated Queen early in the season and she vanished. I hoped they would make one..no go. I have been through that single deep many times and have never found a Queen.
I put a caged mated Queen in earlier this week. They seemed ok with her but seemed more curious than over joyed!
Time will tell.
I put a caged mated Queen in earlier this week. They seemed ok with her but seemed more curious than over joyed!
Time will tell.
I recently had to run an entire hive through a queen excluder to find a junk queen. I pulled the bottom frames out and brushed the bees off and set them in an empty box next to the hive and then again with the second box and set it on topof the other empty then I put the excluder down and an empty box on that . Then I pulled every frame out and shook them into the empty box over the excluder when I was all done I smoked as many down as I could and then left one frame above the excluder and closed them up and came back in an hr and found her on the only comb above the excluder. I crushed her and dropped her into the bottom boxes and dropped a frame of eggs/ young larva. They quickly built out queen cells and the new queen should start her mating flights this week.
Ever heard of someone placing a dead queen in a trap? Why? Because her pheromones remain with her corpse for a considerable time. Leaving her corpse in the hive may be what is keeping the bees from building a queen. They do not know she is gone yet. next time you pinch a queen off take her away. the bees will realize they are queenless in hours, and happily build a replacement.
In the past I've had hives that seemed to make up their mind to die and I couldent prove them wrong. Never developed laying workers because of the brood,eggs and once a capped queen cell I gave them.
They eventually got so weak SHB took them over.
Anymore at the first sign of decline I shake them out or combine and start a nuc from a strong hive or two in their equipment.
They eventually got so weak SHB took them over.
Anymore at the first sign of decline I shake them out or combine and start a nuc from a strong hive or two in their equipment.
I have heard the exact opposite, can't remember the thread but it was said that they will instantly know she's dead. Granted I've only pinched one queen but they had cups started inEver heard of someone placing a dead queen in a trap? Why? Because her pheromones remain with her corpse for a considerable time. Leaving her corpse in the hive may be what is keeping the bees from building a queen. They do not know she is gone yet. next time you pinch a queen off take her away. the bees will realize they are queenless in hours, and happily build a replacement.
a day and cells hatched on time
counting the time I pinched her and dropped the frame in as graft day on a queen rearing calandar
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