[louborges]

I know that laying workers can not make a queen, only drones. But do they try to make queens from the eggs they lay?

 

[peacekeeperapiaries]

I have seen them start cells around an unfertilized egg (from laying workers) but have never seen them complete the task or a cell. I think they quit once something triggers their realization that the egg is not viable.

 

[cmbest]

I agree. The bees are very frustrated when they don't have a queen, but a bad layer. They try to make a queen out of anything they can, but are unable to with an unfertilized egg. If you want them to make their own queen, take a couple frames of eggs/larvae from one of your good hives and put it in that one. They are already trying to make a queen, so they will use this good larvae to create one of their own. Make sure you use a queen you like!

 

[louborges]

So is this one way of solving the problem with laying workers? Just add a frame of fresh fertile eggs from another hive.

 

[peacekeeperapiaries]

yes it is one of the ways to resolve the laying worker problem, add a frame of eggs, if that does not work, add another, and so on until they draw a cell. Its not a fail safe solve all, but it does sometimes clear the problem.

 

[Michael Bush]

Yes, they do. It has been documented since the late 1700s that they do. They seldom succeed at raising a queen, though. But occasionally it has been documented.

 

[SwedeBee1970]

Is that where Kings come from ? LOL.........

 

[MeriB]

I was just on a webinar with Jennifer Berry if the U of GA. She said to add a frame of brood also to get them busy in addition to the eggs and a queen cell if possible.