[John Nolan]

I'm new to the forum and think I have a situation here that is pretty strange.... Anyone ever have no one in the hive but a queen? I cracked my only hive today for a check after what looked like a swarming the other day to find only a healthy queen and a maybe four dazed workers. No brood, no eggs and no company. Any ideas what may have gone so wrong with my lone little hive? I greatly appreciate any insight that can be offered. So bizarre I had to reach out and see if this is at all common.

 

[Clayton Huestis]

Were there dead bees on BB or on the ground near hive? Pesticides? Absconded? Were they from a nuc, package, over wintered ? Need more details to help.

 

[John Nolan]

Thanks Clayton,
There were dead bees a week ago when I did initial spring clean, So they were overwintered and as for pesticides I do not use them, but this is my first spring in a new neighbourhood. I know it's not much to go on but thanks again,
John

 

[Michael Bush]

>Anyone ever have no one in the hive but a queen?

With a new package that decides to move next door... too often...

 

[oldiron56]

I had that happen early this spring, I opened a nuc and had mountain camp on top, there she was on top of the sugar red dot and all with about 4 or 5 bees, Had to take a picture, I caged her and stole a few frames of brood from another nuc and installed her, that nuc is booming now. Makes ya scratch your head,What the ,,,,,,,,,,Pete

 

[beepro]

Maybe the grass is greener on the other side.
I thought bees are very loyal to their queen. But they are very unpredictable
and will move into another hive for better winter survival. A strong hive will accept foragers from another
hive at any day. If you have a double queen hive to overwinter with then one side will have more bees than the other out of winter.
I think the queen with stronger pheromone has something to do with this rare but strange phenomenon.

 

[Michael Bush]

>I thought bees are very loyal to their queen.

Bees are loyal to whoever provides the most QMP...