Swarming without a queen

Beekeeping - Basics
1

unfertilised queen is ‘squashed’ and now the drones seem to be staying in the hive and the workers are swarming out side… can anyone tell me why>>

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2

Would need some more backgroung. Where are you? Why did you squash the queen? Have you looked inside the hive? Are there queen cells in the hive? Is there a queen in that little lot?

Cheers
Rob.

3

evening rob… yep in melbourne australia
about month ago found new queen in my hive, the next week drone cells where brood cells are located and next 2 weeks more drones and no brood cells. was told had sterile queen and probably will not venture out for a mate, been cold down here so don’t blame her.
so she needs go… which i did couple days ago and now the hive is mainly drones and a swarm of what i feel are workers, outside the hive. i have ordered new nuc, be available in couple weeks i hope.
all damn shame as 2mths ago had have full of workers and honey… thought all was fine but didn’t realise the damage losing a queen does in winter

4

Did you squash the queen against that leg, or drop her there? I once dropped a dead queen just outside the front of a hive. Within seconds, there was a pile of bees investigating her. Now I use a queen catcher, and put it into a ziplock bag. This can then be transferred to the freezer for a less violent dispatch. :blush:

5

I’d prefer a big thumb over slowly freezing…but that’s just personal preference; I’m not super keen on the bone chilling cold :slight_smile: (may my wife take note for future reference when old age comes around…)

1 Like
6

Bugger. If that is all the workers you have then even with a new queen tomorrow its not looking good. Are there any workers in the hive? Hope you have more luck with the package.

Good luck
Rob.

7

good point dawn… yes very close was the demise of the queen, that could explain their gathering…maybe the girls style of ‘wake’

8

Thats a small amount of bees there Dennis, are there more workers in the hive or just drones? I am guessing you don’t have another hive from which raid a frame of brood and eggs? Just asking.
Smoke em and scoop them back into the hive and see what happens.