2024: Cliffe Castle Bee Blog #10
Sadly, the poor weather we are experiencing this “summer” must have affected our new queen managing to get out and successfully complete her mating flight/s. Mike and I were unable to find any sign of eggs in the hive after 28 days of waiting.
The new queen was still on the frames (see the very blurred photo – she is inside the blue circle), but as she is not laying, she is of no value to the colony. If we delay dealing with this problem, there is a risk that a worker bee may begin to lay eggs instead.
Worker bees (females) can lay eggs, but as they do not mate, the eggs are unfertilised, and can only produce drones (male bees). Drones cannot perform the tasks needed to keep the colony functioning, and it will just slowly die out.
Usually, the queen gives out chemical signals (pheromones) that prevent worker bees from beginning to lay. The presence of brood (eggs and larvae) in the nest serves the same purpose. Unfortunately, after 28 days we have no brood left, so the situation is urgent!