J Troyer wrote:
>
> Friends,
>
> Another bee mystery to unravel.. Last summer we found a queenless
> hive-no brood, few bees.  Pretty dismal thing.  We became busy and
> forgot to check on it for two to three weeks.  We went back, expecting
> to find a hive of wax moths, and found a thriving colony of bees.  Good
> laying queen, good brood pattern.  Since it was so late in the season we
> doubt that it was a swarm.  Any ideas?  Thanks, JT
 
        Since you had no brood at the time of the first visit, the increase in
population must have come from another colony, a swarm. Two to three weeks is not
enough time for the weak colony to raise a queen (about 27 days to egg laying) and
rear more bees. Even if a new, mated, queen was was is the hive at your 1st visit,
it would be 21 days till the first new bees emerged.