Lost overwintered hive to non-laying Queen?

674 Views 3 Replies 4 Participants Last post by beemandan, May 12, 2019

tmullark

Discussion Starter · May 12, 2019

My hive in Otis Mass (Western Mass, zone 5a-5b) recently died off and I’m trying to figure out where I went wrong. The queen is still alive and may be the last living bee on the hive.

The hive seemed to be a good cluster of bees through the winter but there was a sharp drop off in mid April (western mass and we have had dreary cold and rainy weather). the hive had ample reserves and there were no swarm cells.

At first i thought the hive had swarmed but i found my marked queen alive along with about one frame of bees. i gave them pollen patties and syrup, but after two weeks there has been no new brood and the hive has narrowed down to only a handful of bees and the queen (still alive). No swarm cells and no drones.

Does it make sense (or very uncommon) to lose a hive to a non laying queen as they come out of winter? I welcome any other thoughts/ suggestions. thanks -Tom.

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Oldtimer

· #2 · May 12, 2019

Occasionally it happens. Can be very difficult to diagnose in these cases.

Me anyway, if the other hives have plenty to spare, I may give the non layer some brood and bees from another hive, see if it will get her kick started. But mostly it's a waste of time if she's not laying next time i look she gets pinched and resources given to other hives.

If your other hives do not have much to spare, probably not worth the investment, just pinch it.

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aran

· #3 · May 12, 2019

tmullark said:
My hive in Otis Mass (Western Mass, zone 5a-5b) recently died off and I’m trying to figure out where I went wrong. The queen is still alive and may be the last living bee on the hive.

The hive seemed to be a good cluster of bees through the winter but there was a sharp drop off in mid April (western mass and we have had dreary cold and rainy weather). the hive had ample reserves and there were no swarm cells.

At first i thought the hive had swarmed but i found my marked queen alive along with about one frame of bees. i gave them pollen patties and syrup, but after two weeks there has been no new brood and the hive has narrowed down to only a handful of bees and the queen (still alive). No swarm cells and no drones.

Does it make sense (or very uncommon) to lose a hive to a non laying queen as they come out of winter? I welcome any other thoughts/ suggestions. thanks -Tom.

i thought i had the same issue...went to requeen her/recombine her a week ago and sure enough she has picked up laying again.

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beemandan

· #4 · May 12, 2019

How about varroa?

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