Ok so about a month ago opened one of my hives and no brood eggs or any sign of a laying queen. Searched and searched no queen. Only thing in the brood chamber was nectar. Purchased a mated florescent green marked queen last week. Gave 2 frames of brood from another hive. Put her in hive last Wednesday. Did a quick look Sunday saw eggs but couldn’t see the queen. Went in today and saw a queen with no marking on her. What’s that all about?
Marked queen gone. I think
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You only thought you were queenless. You had a virgin queen who wasn't laying yet. It's a common mistake.
http://bushfarms.com/beesfallacies.htm#nobroodnoqueen
http://bushfarms.com/beesfallacies.htm#nobroodnoqueen
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I have had queens lose their paint in about a week. Some paints dont have much sticking power. Isnt it still early to have a queen mated and laying in your area? It wouldnt happen here for another month at least and I am only a lake or two north of you!
>There’s no way they could have made a new one between them and now is there?
"You never can tell with bees"--Winnie the Pooh
Bees often succeed at things we think they can't. They also often fail at things we think they should be able to do...
"You never can tell with bees"--Winnie the Pooh
Bees often succeed at things we think they can't. They also often fail at things we think they should be able to do...
Yes thats whats so strange. Only thing that i can think of is the paint came off. And thats what i am going with so that way i didnt waste $40I have had queens lose their paint in about a week. Some paints dont have much sticking power. Isnt it still early to have a queen mated and laying in your area? It wouldnt happen here for another month at least and I am only a lake or two north of you!
Very true and happens often. Could be the same queen the OP placed in the hive and the workers "groomed" the paint off her.I have had queens lose their paint in about a week. Some paints dont have much sticking power. Isnt it still early to have a queen mated and laying in your area? It wouldnt happen here for another month at least and I am only a lake or two north of you!
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