Is there a dearth? Not seeing eggs or larvae doesn't mean necessarily that there isn't a queen. If the nectar flow has stopped and they are without supplies coming in, sometimes the queen quits laying because they have to have stores to raise brood. She may be there, just not laying. Usually when you open a queenless colony, there is a definite roar - different than normal bee humming in the hive....it's a loud, rising buzz.
Linda T in Atlanta