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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