Phil Moore asked:
> What do you put this down too? did you make your splits earlier than
usual?
> Perhaps poor drone numbers or not good quenn flying weather?
Many were made much earlier than I would have wished - I am not sure that
the word 'usual' can be applied any longer, given the chaotic weather. The
first spell of fine weather kick-started brood rearing and the subsequent
cool spell seemed to encourage them to build queen cells - even though many
were not into the supers. The new queens then emerged during the poor
weather when there were few workers flying - let alone drones! However,
some colonies tore down the queen cells - I have seen very large numbers
this year - only to rebuild them when the weather changed; these should
stand a good chance of mating properly.
Peter Edwards
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www.stratford-upon-avon.freeserve.co.uk/
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