[whalerbee]

I have a hive that was healthy but now is not producing much brood. Earlier in the season it might have swarmed but I never saw a drop in bee numbers. Last month when examining the hive I found no brood - zero. I added a frame from another hive that had brood and in a few weeks was getting brood, though not the best pattern. Today, about three weeks since last exam, very little brood, just a little spotty brood, most frames empty. So it looks like I'm headed back to having no brood. Thoughts or ideas about this would be appreciated.

 

[Rick 1456]

I'll let the sperts correct me, but if the brood you gave them did not have 3 day old larvae or less, they could not have made their own queen. Brood will help keep the bees from getting into a worker laying syndrome. From your description, you just might have that. Bullet shaped caps on the brood? Spotty brood pattern? Look for eggs ,,,,,,more then one egg and not in the bottom of the cell?
All clues

Rick

 

[RayMarler]

I would replace the queen. Sounds like she's slowing down and failing.