Superscedure, when do they kill the Mother?

Are you sure that the hive didn't swarm? How long between the first and second time was it that you waited?

As for timing of killing off the old queen, in some cases the workers don't bother to do it at all. They let the new virgin take care of that job. However, sometimes she doesn't do it either and you end up with a two queen hive.

I know from what i've seen on my hives, if the workers are getting rid of the old queen, they will wait till a couple days prior to the new virgin emerging from the cell before they kill her off. I guess they wanted to get as much out of her as they could. lol

Thats kind of what I figured doc. But the timing just doesnt seem to add up on this one. I must have missed something. this was a struggling hive, was glad to see a queen laying after a extended brood break. They had already swarmed. I took notes, but this is just my second year, so, I probably screwed em up. Seems like I saw a curled up larvae in a cup on the 9th. So I guess she must have just hatched today? But, Thats why Im confused, seems I would have seen some eggs if they just waited a couple days befor hatching to kill the queen, or if she was still there. I would love to go back in tommorrow in the sun and check again tommorrow just for knowledge, but Im sure I read that i should stay out of the virgins hive for a while. And the worst part is the other queen had a great pattern. Did see a blemish on her back. Maybe thats why they replaced her. Guess im just left to wonder.G:scratch:

I have had a mother and daughter laying in a hive together for as long as 5 weeks before the mother disappeared. When both queens are present and laying, I don't know whether the workers kill the old queen or if she dies of natural causes. I have never seen two queens that were in laying condition fight each other.

I would say it runs the gambit from them disposing of her before the new queen emerges to then keeping her for several months. Usually she's gone by the next spring for sure...

Michael Bush said:

I would say it runs the gambit from them disposing of her before the new queen emerges to then keeping her for several months. Usually she's gone by the next spring for sure...

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Thanks for your reply Mr. Bush, guess this case leaned early dispatch. G