How do you check for swarm cells if you only go in three times a year? How can you tell a hive is queen less without looking for signs of a queen?
It should be noted that I beekeep according to the Lazy Beekeeper's Guide.
I'm not offering this as advice to anyone.
Just illustrating there is more than one way to do it.
Someone here said it: "Everything works if you let it".
Some Stranger, I think....
I don't check for swarm cells.
In early Spring I checkerboard the frames.
If that doesn't do it, then maybe they'll swarm.
That just means the hive might have to wait until next year to produce some honey for me.
That's why I have a few hives.
More often than not, I win.
Beekeeping is a game of chance, with the odds in my favor.
WRT queenlessness: In the afternoons, there will significant orienting going on in front of the hive nearly every day.
That means there is a good supply of fresh bees.
I won't worry about the queen unless I notice a lack of a certain level of activity, i.e. coming and going, orienting, marching, bearding, hive weight, etc.