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Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology

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Subject:
From:
Aaron Morris <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Mon, 30 Sep 2002 08:04:33 -0400
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Well, the good news is that the weather has been amazing this fall - no
frost yet, forecast for 80dF tomorrow, October 1!  The bad news is that it's
bound to go downhill quickly.  There is still time to requeen if A) you get
your queen quickly and B) she's accepted first try.  If she's rejected,
there's still time to try again, but time's running out.

A more important question is what are the reasons you want to requeen?  At
this time of year I'd be more inclined to consider combinine a borderline
hive with one that is doing well rather than attempting to requeen.  Even if
your new queen is accepted first try, there's probably time for only one
more brood cycly, two at best (and that's pushing things).  Chances are that
even if your queen arrives quickly and is accepted first try, she won't be
laying until early next week.  Those bees will emerge right around HAlloween
and by that time the bees will be more or less hunkered down for the winter,
perhaps they migh raise one more round of brood, but if so it'll be a small
batch.  Then again, a successful requeening now will have a young vigirous
queen reigning to raise ample brood when they start brooding again in mid
January.

So yes, there's still time to requeen this fall even though it's late.  In
the meantime you might keep an eye towards hives that may benefit from being
combined, just in case the requeening attempt is not successful.

Personally, I keep a few nucs going all season just in case a hive is in
need, especially at this time of year.  It's far easier to augment a weak
hive with a vigirous nuc than it is to bring a hive back with a new queen
this late in the season.

Aaron Morris - thinking frost on the pumpkins, but not yet!

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