Joined
·
1,206 Posts
I have a hive that overwintered fine, with plenty of excess honey. My initial spring inspection showed that the queen was laying, but not a lot. That didn't surprise me since we had a cold spring, with late blooms, this year.
Couple of weeks ago, I noticed very little activity in front of the hive, on an 85 degree day, when the other two were hopping!. Initial inspection showed one small patch of capped brood and larvae about 1"x 2". No sign of the queen, no eggs or larvae otherwise. The hive was very mellow, lethargic almost.
I gave them a frame of eggs and another frame of eggs and larvae, hoping they'd prove there was no queen, by making a queen cell. 5 days later, upon inspection, nothing.
So I ordered a queen on Sunday. It arrived on Tuesday. I check again to make sure there was no queen. Put the mated caged queen inside, and left them alone until today.
She had been released, but there is no sign of her (she is marked and I'm actually really good at spotting queens), including no eggs. There's plenty of honey and drawn comb. I should be seeing eggs by now, correct?
I checked the bottom board, but no sign of her anywhere. Should I wait a few more days or just combine them with my other two hives?
A mated queen would be laying by now, correct?
Couple of weeks ago, I noticed very little activity in front of the hive, on an 85 degree day, when the other two were hopping!. Initial inspection showed one small patch of capped brood and larvae about 1"x 2". No sign of the queen, no eggs or larvae otherwise. The hive was very mellow, lethargic almost.
I gave them a frame of eggs and another frame of eggs and larvae, hoping they'd prove there was no queen, by making a queen cell. 5 days later, upon inspection, nothing.
So I ordered a queen on Sunday. It arrived on Tuesday. I check again to make sure there was no queen. Put the mated caged queen inside, and left them alone until today.
She had been released, but there is no sign of her (she is marked and I'm actually really good at spotting queens), including no eggs. There's plenty of honey and drawn comb. I should be seeing eggs by now, correct?
I checked the bottom board, but no sign of her anywhere. Should I wait a few more days or just combine them with my other two hives?
A mated queen would be laying by now, correct?