In a message dated 96-06-10 08:45:04 EDT, you write:
 
>The problem is I find I can't find the queen during my hurried and
distracted
>inspections.
>
>Is there an easy way to get the old queen out, which doesn't involve a lot
of
>disruption.
 
   You didn't say if you have multiple hives.  This technique, of course,
will only work, if you have more hives.
 
1.  Make a nuc from one of your good hives.  Two or three frames of brood
with adhering bees should do it.  Make sure they have eggs, as they will have
to raise a queen.  If you give them a queen, they may come on faster, but
there is a risk of her being killed, by the nasties, you want to be
eliminating.  Set it right beside your nasty hive.
 
2.  When your nasty hive gets to flying good, move it a hundred feet or so.
 Then move the nuc to the former nasty site.  The bees that are out foraging
will return and go into your nuc, which will begin raising a queen from your
good stock. Don't disturb them again unless you see a sign of problem.  As
long as flight is good and they are carrying pollen, they are raising brood,
so should be okay.  In six weeks all nasty bees will be dead and the nuc
should be nice, assuming the queen got mated.
 
   Bees will continue to forage from the nasty hive, and a large proportion
of these will not notice the change in location; they will return to the nuc.
By afternoon, your nasty hive will be much reduced in number.  And lo and
behold, the bees most apt to sting will be the ones that are gone.
 
2.  Find your queen and kill her.  Replace with a good queen, and chances of
acceptance will be much better, as the bees will be mostly young ones.
 
Don't do this during a cold spell, as you can get chilled brood in either
one, until enough adults hatch to cover the brood.
 
[log in to unmask]    Dave Green,  PO Box 1200,  Hemingway,  SC
29554
 
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