failed supersedure queen

[labergsc]

Hi! We tried to split our hive on 6/24 (because there were supersedure cells in the original one) and we still don't have a queen (or cells or larva) in the new hive. There is very little capped brood left from what we moved in to the new hive and the queen cells that remain are just cups at this point. I'm guessing this means the new queen failed and I'm worried they don't have any eggs to make another queen from at this point.

Would it be possible to move some more capped brood and/or eggs from the hive with the queen to the new hive, or do we need to buy a queen at this point? A good deal of brood emerged in the queenless hive in the past week, so there are more bees in the queenless hive - just none in the pipeline.

Any advice would be most welcome!

[Wally]

I would place another frame with eggs in the nuc. The new queen hasn't had time to start laying. Guessing you used a capped queen cell to start the nuc, wait 3 weeks before expecting eggs. 4 weeks to see larva.

[labergsc]

Thanks, Wally! So, even if we don't see a queen in the new hive, she might be around somewhere? I think you told me at the last meeting that there was a site where I could calculate how long before we see each step...and I've forgotten the name of that site . Thanks again! We will try moving a frame with eggs in it.

[Wally]

http://www.thebeeyard.org/queen-rearing-calendar/

[labergsc]

Thanks for the link.
I just realized that I meant to say we split on May 24th not June 24th. I'm guessing that changes the answer...

[Wally]

Definitely changes the story. Add the eggs today and check for queen cells this weekend. Report back with what you find.

[labergsc]

I was afraid of that. I will put in a frame with cells this afternoon and report back after the weekend. Thanks for your help!

Also, I just saw this site. You may already have this posted somewhere, but I thought I would pass it along.

http://www.takepart.com/save-our-bees


Thanks again!

[Jacobs]

Come on Wally! Why are you directing our forum members to a site we already stole from? The queen calculator is in our "Just Stuff" "Useful Links" posting along with a number of other highly useful sites.

[Wally]

My boo-boo. I went to the thread and clicked on the link. Copied the link to here. I'll try to do better next time.

Oldtimer's disease kicking in.

[labergsc]

We checked the new hive again yesterday and there is a queen! Not sure how we missed her before. Both of us looked for ages. Anyway, she seems to be laying now. There were cells in frames other than the one I put in there last week.

That leads me to a question. Is it possible the old queen went back to the old box? If so, would that possibly mean the new box ended up raising their own queen - and why we saw her later than expected? (The queen in the new box does seem to be a little smaller than the queen in the old box.) I'm still trying to get my head around how all this works!

Oh, and another question. Now that we have a queen in the new hive, should we destroy the queen cups in that hive? They are empty.

Thanks for all your help!-

[Wally]

Leave the new hive alone for a week or two. They will adjust things as needed.

[labergsc]

Thanks!