I installed my new nuc into my new Flow Hive 2 at the end of March of this year (2024). To date (July 21st) nearly four months later the bees have not built out the new frames I added when I installed the nuc. The configuration is an 8 frame Brood box. I kept the original five frames from the nuc in the center of the box, and placed 3 new foundationless frames on the outsides. I have not added the Flow Super at all as the bees have not built on the new frames I added. A month ago I swapped out one of those added foundationless frames with a Green drone foundation frame for Verroa trapping and testing. Four weeks later that Green frame is completely empty as well.
Variables for my location:
South Texas Coast. Hot and Humid climate with mild winters. In late March the Hi/Lo temps are 90’F(32’C) / 72’F (22’C). In late July the Hi/Lo temps are 110’F(43’C) / 79’F(26). We rarely get below 45’F(7’C) in the winters and winter here is January to the middle of February. Our spring essentially starts at the end of Feb and summer starts at the end of March. We really have two seasons, Hot and Not So Hot. Even with a bottom screen and extra vent holes in teh top the heat and humidity has the hive bearding outside of the landing 24 hours a day from late April until today (end of July).
The FlowHive is located in the middle of our orchard and within a 10 foot / 3m radius of the hive is a 40,000 gallon koi pond, and an abundant amount of pollinator plants such as Canalilies, Lantana, Peach Trees, Tomatos, Turk’s Cap, Beebalm, Mexican Hat, Milkweed, Black Eyes Susan, Blue Salvia, Plum Trees, Moringa Oliefera Trees, tropical Lemon Grass, and Rosemary bushes. In the lower 20 acres there is a 1/2 acre pond (less than 1/4 mile away).
Prior to the new NUC I tried to create an environment with such an abundance that the bees would hit the ground running and flourish… but that seems like it has failed as they have done very little since first installing them four months ago.
What could possibly be the issue?
Hi and welcome to the forum!
Sorry you’re having a puzzling first season - guess you can say you’ve joined that club too 
As a first year beek I managed to kill the queen during my first inspection, the bees made a new one, then they all died in fall when the varroa population exploded because I treated too little/too late.
There are a few reasons why your colony has stagnated:
- It’s queenless
- There are pests and/or diseases keeping the workers too busy to build
- There are flowers, but no nectar because it’s been too hot
- They swarmed a few times soon after you installed them and haven’t recovered because of #1, 2 or 3.
When you inspected, did you happen to see the queen or any eggs/young larvae at all? If not, you could either get hold of a frame of eggs, brood and nurse bees from another beek and place it in the center so they can make a new queen, or buy one. I would also remove the drone brood frame, because they need to make workers before making drones under the circumstances.
If this is a dearth where you are, it’s probably best to feed them some 1:1 sugar water with either a baggie feeder or a store bought type that sits inside the hive so as not to bring on robbing.
Please post some pics if you can, those would be very helpful for us to try to diagnose the issue and guide you 
Edit: forgot to mention that having too much ventilation in the heat is actually counterproductive for the bees. They might actually be struggling to keep the hive environment hospitable enough as a result. Close the bottom screen by placing the slider in the topmost position and reduce the entrance leaving two 2” openings on either side. @JeffH always recommends that new beeks watch The City Of Bees and has a link - thanks in advance Jeff 
. The video explains how the bees create their own HVAC system and need to control the airflow to do it, so having a giant opening letting outside air in undermines that in the same way that removing one wall of your house will make your AC less efficient to say the least 
Welcome to the often puzzling and always rewarding world of beekeeping. In addition to Eva’s excellent response, I’ll add that drone comb for varroa controls is an excellent tool, but there are particular considerations.
You should only use them when there is a nectar flow on and during the colony growth phase. Typically spring, early summer. The bees will draw comb when it suits them, and the queen will lay when it suits her. You must be vigilant to see when she has laid out the frame and remove the frame 20 days later. If you don’t remove the frame in time, you’ll have a mite bomb on your hands. Also, limit it to twice per season. It takes a lot of resources to produce and contrary to popular belief, drones are important. Your drones contribute to the local genetic diversity that ensures future colony health.
Mike
I would remove it for now, until you sort out the primary issue of insufficient colony growth.