Karen
Yes bees dislike gusty windy weather, you can imagine it must be difficult
if not lethal to fly in, so remain in the hive under such circumstances. So
that all sounds like a very healthy colony doing a planned supercedure. As
you say, they are acting purposeful and queen-right.
By the way, if not already aware, an easy way to test for a queen-right
hive is the 'rap' test. Put your ear to the hive body, now 'rap' once
loudly on the hive with your knuckle to create a loud sharp sound. You will
hear the colony 'roar' in response as the sound causes an initial alarm.
However, if that 'roar' sounds but them immediately ceases again (after
only say 1-3 secs), that is a good sign the colony is queen-right. If the
noisy grumbly roar continues longer and only dies back gradually say
throughout 10-20 secs, that indicates either no queen or perhaps a weak
failing one. If the hive contains the pheromones of a healthy queen, calm
order is maintained.
Prime swarms have the old fertile queen and so once the new colony is well
underway and established, it is not unusual that she might be replaced as
she ages. She will still be there laying and probably you will get a
queen-right response, but likely her laying output will have decreased over
time and so the workers have decided time for a new queen. There are plenty
of drones around at the moment so it's a good time to do it.
The fact that the colony only built a certain amount of comb and then
stopped is absolutely fine. New colonies have a lot of competing priorities
and don't build comb continuously, only as needed.
Lynne
On Mon, 29 Jun 2020, 10:27 Karen Giles, <karen@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Hi All,
I hope I'm not encroaching but this email chain has sparked a slight worry
with me as my TBH hasn't built any new comb in a few weeks now. (it's about
half full) I have also noticed a queen cup in construction which they have
helpfully placed by the window.
They were a swarm collected back in April.
I haven't been into the bars to inspect as yet other than to give more
space and want to avoid doing so if possible.
They have been generally busy and pollen is still going in regularly, in
fact the bottom board is often covered in pollen when I check it, having
said that, they were very quiet yesterday but I'm hoping that was more to
do with the wind.
My guess is they are superseding the queen but I would love an expert
opinion.
Any thoughts welcome,
Best
Karen
On Mon, 29 Jun 2020 at 08:44, Oxnatbees <oxnatbees@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
It's odd that there are no drone larvae - no "curly pearlies" at all.
The fact they have not built more comb is not alarming. They will have
plenty of empty comb to use before they need more, because swarms take
honey with them. Bees build comb when needed, not continuously.
I think the "cure" for drone laying workers is to transfer in a comb of
brood + eggs (not eggs alone). You should google that to check I am right.
The smell of the brood triggers their nursing instincts. The fact that your
other hive is a different type is not a show stopper: you can simply put a
frame in *at right angles to the TBH comb* (!) - not ideal but,
crucially, a rapid transfer which does not chill the brood. The bees will
smell & cover it to keep it warm; it should ideally be wedged upright so no
larvae fall out. Don't faff around trying to cut a frame to the right
shape/ size and tying it to a bar, you will probably just kill and chill
the brood on it in the current weather.
Paul
On Sun, 28 Jun 2020 at 22:42, Ann Welch <ann.welch123@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Hi Kerry, Could be that the queen didn't mate properly so has herself
become a drone layer. Usually if the workers are laying there will be
multiple eggs in cells and they're not usually right down at the bottom but
laid on the sides of the cells. Are you sure there are no eggs visible at
all?
Ann
On 28/06/2020 22:31, Kerry Dawson wrote:
Dear All,
Since swarming on 2 May and again on 8 May, I have been observing the
bees in my tbh to see if all was progressing as it should. The remaining
bees were still plentiful and purposeful, but it seemed strange that, after
several weeks, they were not building new comb and numbers despite the good
weather and foraging activity.
A couple of days ago I decided to do a full inspection. I found no eggs
and no brood. The combs are full of nectar and there are capped drone
cells, so I think workers are laying.
My question is what to do? Would introducing some eggs from another hive
encourage them to make a new queen, or has too much time passed for this?
Also, I can't easily transfer brood from my other hive, as it is not a tbh.
It is very sad to watch the colony decline. Any help and advice welcome.
Kerry
--
Karen Giles
Senior Design Engineer
Black Dog Design Ltd
t: 07790 908144
e:karen@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx