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