Thanks to all for the suggestions for pheromone removal from gloves!
 
I have two other questions that I have tried to find answers for but have
not.
 
I have heard that some colonies in which the queen has somehow been
killed have developed laying workers who try to fill in for the dead
queen but cannot of course lay fertilized eggs.  I've searched the
literature to find out exactly how this problem is initially recognized
without intruding, and how is the problem rectified.  Books I have
consulted have said that any introduced queen into such a colony will
most probably be killed.  Must the entire colony be destroyed?
 
Question one's answer will probably answer question two.  If some workers
do acquire laying capabilities and produce a large drone colony, how to
fix without destroying the colony?  Thanks for any solutions you may have...
 
 
One last observation--I've hived two swarms, and both have been hived for
approximately a week now--one seems to like to hang out on the bottom
board--I thought that maybe this hive had an extraordinary amount of
guard bees--I checked quickly three days after installing and found bees
drawing comb in one of the frames.  Its too soon for them to think about
swarming, especially if they're drawing comb.  Do some colonies like to
hang out on the bottom board as a matter of course?  I am seeing some
foraging going on, but the weather has been wet and overcast, though
warm.  Am I worrying too much?
 
kevin
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