Three queens did not return

[asprince]

I had three hives to swarm this year. The queen cells hatched but somehow they never returned. I did not keep a check on them as I should have and they all three turned into laying worker hives. I shook them out yesterday and put the boxes on three other strong hives that were ready for more room. When she starts laying in the top box I will probably split them off.

Anyone else have problems with the queen not returning from her mating flight?


Steve

[BeeMaster2]

Steve,
You are not alone. I have 6 new/old hives that ended up queenless. Some of them I found and marked the new queens and they never made it back from their maiden flights. At the last club meeting I talked to 2 other people here that had the same problem with several new hives. I am not expecting a lot of honey because of it this year. I have put several hives together this year because of losing queens.
I have a lot of dragonflies and this year I am seeing, for the first time, bluebirds. Both of which love them.
Jim

[Kathyp]

happens.  sucks.  here, it's the darn swallows.  they just live in the air outside my hives. 

[Wolfer]

I had two early supersedures that I feel should be laying anytime. As of yesterday no eggs yet. I have six more making their mating flights this week.

Always a nervous time but I know some will make it.

[10framer]

so far i've had 100 percent return this year but last year the majority didn't make it back or never mated due to weather. 

[asprince]

My honey production is not what it should be either.


Steve

[10framer]

mine is better than last year but the flow was only intense for a few days at a time a couple of times.  having no drawn comb was my big set back.  all the honey looks like privet with some clover mixed in.  really light, really sweet but not my favorite. 

[TenshiB]

Had virgin queens fail in two hives this year, too.... And I found dragonflies terrorizing two of my hives (both of these are new hives with mated queens, so the queens are safe from Dragon Fs) a couple of days ago.. made me so mad that I managed to smack about 5 to the ground with my hat and stomp them..

p.s. I HATE laying workers.   :-x

[Blacksheep]

Hi Guys: I think I have a same situation ,I checked the hive a week ago and no eggs and lots of bees.I had a  swarm earlier and recaptured them and put them in a box not knowing the other hive had no Queen.I opened them up today and brood cells were clean no eggs and bees making honey in brood area.
Question can put the swarm above them  use the screen wire instead of newspaper and leave them a few days and them remove the wire and they be united in peace?Thanks,Bill

[TenshiB]

I don't see why that wouldn't work. Just re-unite the swarm and old queen with the half left behind and put them in the same hardware? I'm curious to see if anyone on here has tried this. I have a feeling that it would be successful.. I think you would up your odds of it working if you re-locate the whole colony several miles away from the spot that they swarmed from. :)