In message <[log in to unmask]>, Al Lipscomb <[log in to unmask]> writes >> These queenless bees oriented, foraged and stored pollen. In other >> words, looked just like a queenright colony! I have observed the >> same before but never in a colony which began (in their current hive, >> anyway) queenless. >> >Drop in a frame with eggs and see how they react. If they pull cells then you >know there is no queen. If, as George suggests, there is a virgin queen in the >hive you will have young bees available when the new queen starts to lay. I have been told that doing this at the wrong time might encourage a freshly mated queen to lay too early and produce drones. Any comment? In other words, leave the test till she has had time to mate and incubate. -- James Kilty