It is not so critical to find the queen if you have ample brood and plenty of bees for working while queen gets set up. There are still drones around and they 'should' be enough to carry the colony through winter. If you are really concerned and want to save this line, then donate a lb of bees from each hive that can afford it.
Scot Mc Pherson
McPherson Family Honey Farms
Davenport, IA
Bradenton, FL
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