Menu
Log in
Forgot password

BUCKS COUNTY BEEKEEPERS ASSOCIATION

Log in
Forgot password

Queen Cells

  • June 05, 2023 1:44 PM
    Quote
    Message # 13210789
    Rick

    Kurt,

    We have two new hives working, both installed as Nucs several weeks ago.  One appears to be thriving, the other is less active but still building comb.  In the less active hive I found these cells, which I assume from the classes are either swarm cells or queen cells?   Can you identify and make any recommendations if anything needs to be done to help this hive?  

    3 files
  • June 05, 2023 2:23 PM
    Quote
    Reply # 13210834 on 13210789
    Kurt (Administrator)

    Rick,

    Yup - These look to be supercedure queen cells.   The bees evidently want to raise a "better" queen and are not satisfied with the queen they have.

     These cells look like they are open and  about to be closed - once capped the queen will emerge 9 days later.   The queen will then need to get mated,( another 5-7 days).  So figure, if you let them requeen on their own they will be 3 weeks behind the other.  With a break in brood for a few weeks, expect to see significantly fewer bees.   IF you let them requeen- I'd consider moving some brood over weekly to keep the populations of you two hives more even.

     My recommendation is that  you try to to call around ASAP for a mated queen to save some "bee" time as our main nectar flows will be drying up here near the end of June - not mention it has been too dry lately maybe sooner.  Call the NUC producer to see what they may have available?  Maybe a club member has one they would like to share from a mid season split? 
  • June 06, 2023 7:43 AM
    Quote
    Reply # 13211218 on 13210789
    Rick

    Thanks for the solid advice.  Beeworks can get us a queen tomorrow so I think we'll go that route.  
  • June 06, 2023 7:57 PM
    Quote
    Reply # 13211718 on 13210789
    Rick

    We are picking up a new queen tomorrow at Beeworks.  I removed the superceder cells which had fully developed bees inside.  Pictures are of a couple of them that I removed.  They may have been in there longer than expected given the timeline.  Not sure if we're doing everything correctly but we are learning and hoping by sharing this it helps others with their learning curve.  

    3 files
Powered by Wild Apricot Membership Software