Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: Cee on April 17, 2012, 01:58:42 pm

Title: Fanning Queenless?
Post by: Cee on April 17, 2012, 01:58:42 pm

I have a hive that appears queenless, but doesnt have that roar, though they have been awful mean recently. I could find NO wet brood and very little capped, but no cups or Qcells either. But they are fanning. Would QL bees fan? I'm assuming not, but I dont know and that's why I'm asking.

Title: Re: Fanning Queenless?
Post by: FRAMEshift on April 17, 2012, 02:23:26 pm

Quote from: Cee on April 17, 2012, 01:58:42 pm

I have a hive that appears queenless, but doesnt have that roar, though they have been awful mean recently. I could find NO wet brood and very little capped, but no cups or Qcells either. But they are fanning. Would QL bees fan? I'm assuming not, but I dont know and that's why I'm asking.

Bees fan for a number of reasons, including when they are hot.  I don't know why fanning would be connected to the presence or absence of a queen.   If you suspect your hive is queenless, the safest thing to do is add a frame of eggs from another hive.  If you have a queen, the frame will just add to the hive.  If not, the bees can make a queen from the eggs.  If the hive has been queenless for a long time and has started moving toward laying workers, you might have to repeat the addition of eggs weekly for a couple of weeks.