Ha! Let us know how this turns out!
Sneaky Switchout To Fool The Bees
2
Down here in the Southern Hemisphere it's honey harvesting time which I was doing today. Came across an especially vicious hive, badly wanted to requeen, but I didn't have a queen.
Then while doing the AFB check I found 3 supersedure cells. A good thing, but only issue is the resultant queen might turn out to be just as nasty as it's mother.
So, what to do? Alongside the agro hive was a nice quiet hive of golden coloured very gentle bees. I didn't have any queen making gear with me, but using a twig I removed the young larvae from the queen cells, and replaced them with larvae plucked from the gentle hive.
Hoping the bees don't notice and raise one of these larvae to be their new queen. Never done this before so not totally certain it will work, but as the vicious hive was black and the nice hive was yellow, I should be able to tell in a couple of months if there has been a colour change in the black hive.
2 of the 3 supersedure cells
Over at the gentle hive, pared back the cell a bit, removed the larva, and placing a larva from the gentle hive into the supersedure cell.
Then while doing the AFB check I found 3 supersedure cells. A good thing, but only issue is the resultant queen might turn out to be just as nasty as it's mother.
So, what to do? Alongside the agro hive was a nice quiet hive of golden coloured very gentle bees. I didn't have any queen making gear with me, but using a twig I removed the young larvae from the queen cells, and replaced them with larvae plucked from the gentle hive.
Hoping the bees don't notice and raise one of these larvae to be their new queen. Never done this before so not totally certain it will work, but as the vicious hive was black and the nice hive was yellow, I should be able to tell in a couple of months if there has been a colour change in the black hive.
2 of the 3 supersedure cells
Over at the gentle hive, pared back the cell a bit, removed the larva, and placing a larva from the gentle hive into the supersedure cell.
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were the age/size the same similar?Down here in the Southern Hemisphere it's honey harvesting time which I was doing today. Came across an especially vicious hive, badly wanted to requeen, but I didn't have a queen.
Then while doing the AFB check I found 3 supersedure cells. A good thing, but only issue is the resultant queen might turn out to be just as nasty as it's mother.
So, what to do? Alongside the agro hive was a nice quiet hive of golden coloured very gentle bees. I didn't have any queen making gear with me, but using a twig I removed the young larvae from the queen cells, and replaced them with larvae plucked from the gentle hive.
Hoping the bees don't notice and raise one of these larvae to be their new queen. Never done this before so not totally certain it will work, but as the vicious hive was black and the nice hive was yellow, I should be able to tell in a couple of months if there has been a colour change in the black hive.
2 of the 3 supersedure cells
Over at the gentle hive, pared back the cell a bit, removed the larva, and placing a larva from the gentle hive into the supersedure cell.
may as well remove the other 2 to improve your odds.
GG
LOL, I never wear gloves, I guess vicious would be by my definition. Which would be making me wish I had a pair 
. Also, can't graft with gloves, or at least, I can't.
And yes, replaced the larva in the cell with a similar aged one. The other cell was more advanced so was replaced with a much younger one.
I should be able to take a look in the hive on Friday, so I'll report back. With a pic for proof of course (if the graft took)
. Also, can't graft with gloves, or at least, I can't.And yes, replaced the larva in the cell with a similar aged one. The other cell was more advanced so was replaced with a much younger one.
I should be able to take a look in the hive on Friday, so I'll report back. With a pic for proof of course (if the graft took)
Checked back at that hive today, sadly, the cells did not work out the bees destroyed all 3 of them.
I also found a virgin queen in the hive which I had been unaware of last time, so I don't know if that is why the cells were removed, or if the bees would have removed them anyway.
I'm keeping a grafting tool in the truck now so next time there is an opportunity I'll give it another try and see what happens.
The fun of being semi retired, and having the time to play around with not very efficient, but interesting ideas.
I also found a virgin queen in the hive which I had been unaware of last time, so I don't know if that is why the cells were removed, or if the bees would have removed them anyway.
I'm keeping a grafting tool in the truck now so next time there is an opportunity I'll give it another try and see what happens.
The fun of being semi retired, and having the time to play around with not very efficient, but interesting ideas
.
+ 1 for the effort and the willingness to try.Checked back at that hive today, sadly, the cells did not work out the bees destroyed all 3 of them.
I also found a virgin queen in the hive which I had been unaware of last time, so I don't know if that is why the cells were removed, or if the bees would have removed them anyway.
I'm keeping a grafting tool in the truck now so next time there is an opportunity I'll give it another try and see what happens.
The fun of being semi retired, and having the time to play around with not very efficient, but interesting ideas
maybe the second or third time it works.
I see a lot of cups in the Russians I have, along the bottom on the med frames, Box 3, sometime 3-5 on a frame, You have given me some ideas. At times I need like 3-5 queens, seems these "ready made" cups would be accepted as well as plastic and cost less. Also I do find some with larvae that could goin a starter hive.
GG
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