If you think there is a chance of there being a laying queen or about to
be a laying queen but are not certain, how about moving a frame with eggs
and your larvae from your good hive to the week hive.  If there is a
queen you will only have boosted the population.  If there is no queen at
least the bees have eggs and larvae from which to make another.  You
might do this every few days until somebody starts laying eggs.
 
I would not worry about swarming in a weak hive - that is usually not
going to happen.  And if it does - have you really lost much?
 
Good luck.
 
Eric Abell                           email: [log in to unmask]
Gibbons, AB, T0A 1N0
Canada
(403) 998 3143
 
On Sun, 4 Jun 1995, Laura Downey wrote:
 
> Hi all -
>
>    I went out and inspected my two hives today.  The one is doing great!
>  They're working on a super now - should have my first surplus honey soon.
>
>    The second hive is not doing so well.  Still no sign of the queen.  What
> is there is capped brood, emergency _and_ swarm cells.  There is no larva
> present.  I am totally confused about the presence of both swarm and
> emergency cells.  What is going on?
>
>     Is there a point at which I can requeen this hive without the possibility
> of losing the newly installed queen to a new "emergency" queen?  Is waiting
> until late summer too late to requeen?  I don't want to lose this hive.  What
> are your suggestions as to what I should do in order to save this colony?
>
>    Thanks in advance!
>
> Laura Downey
> Maryland
>