In a message dated 6/9/99 1:23:51 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:
> So I assume that what happened is that the virgin queen that resulted from
> the swarm(s) failed to mate adequately during the rainy periods.
>
> My question is, can I simply requeen in the ordinary way? Would it be
> better to give the hive a comb of eggs and hope they'll superscede the
> drone-layer, or should I buy a queen and try to introduce her after
> dispatching the drone-layer>
You are probably right on the queen not mating. But giving them a queen
will likely waste a queen. If they are still quite strong, give them a couple
frames of brood with some eggs from a good colony. They'll raise a queen that
they will accept. If they have dwindled, use it as a super on a good hive.
If you insist on giving them a queen, give them some brood anyway. That
way you'll have some young bees to care for the queen .....or.....eggs to
raise a queen after they kill the introduced one.
[log in to unmask] Dave Green Hemingway, SC USA
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