I have had 2 experiences with laying worker colonies. Re-queening such colonies did not work for me. However, the following procedure was successful: I dismantled the colonies and moved the deeps approx. 100 yards away from the original hive location. I brushed all off the frames and other parts into the grass. I re-assembled the empty colony on the original hive site and installed a caged queen between frames in the usual manner. The bulk of the bees returned to the hive. In a week's time the queen had been released and accepted. The hives went on to be normal, productive, queen-right colonies. In answer to your first question: I have identified laying worker colonies when there is an excessive number of drones and there is no <<normal>> brood and I see only drone brood and the pattern is spotty and irregular. You may also see multiple eggs per cell and the eggs may be situated oddly, such as, to the side of the cell. Hope this is helpful. John Oldfather [log in to unmask]