[log in to unmask] (Dave Johnson):
>An inspection today (April 23rd) yielded no brood in any stages of developmen
t and all queen cells empty.
 
>Has this colony become queenless or is there still time for a virgin to mate
and lay?  Do I need to introduce a young, mated queen to this colony?  Or do
I just need patience?
 
   Sometimes it seems like forever to get the new queen laying.  Or it could
be that a bird or dragonfly got her on her mating flight. There seems to be a
lot of dragonflies this spring around here.
 
   One very good clue is to observe the bees.  They know if they have a
queen.  Do they seem quiet and content? Or are they runny and fanning a lot?
 
   It's not a good idea to introduce a mated, caged queen, at least not
alone.  If there is a queen already there, you've wasted one queen, and if
there isn't, they probably won't accept her anyway, as there are few young
bees left.
 
   I have begun the standard practice of giving a frame of brood to all
captured swarms (with eggs), and to any nuc, if there is the slightest doubt
that the queen has gotten mated.  It works well; it boosts them up quite a
bit, keeping a more even distribution of age groups of workers, and, if
needed, they can make emergency cells.
 
   When there is little doubt, rather the certainty that they have failed to
get a mated queen, it is a good idea to place a nuc into the hive.  Or you
can simulate a nuc, by giving them a caged queen and two frames of sealed
brood.  What is important is to introduce young bees again, so the queen will
be accepted.
 
   The problems associated with swarming are a real pain in the neck.  As
much as possible, it's best to prevent it in the first place.
 
[log in to unmask]                          Dave Green      SCarolina