Removed Drone brood and questions

[Highlander]

One of my hives has lost their queen. I have one or two queen cells going and I know at least one has an egg in it.  Attached are some pics of the three frames removed and put in the freezer.  I would like for them to re-queen themselves if only for the experience of watching the process.  I replaced the three frames with fresh un drawn and added a hive top feeder of syrup.

My question is; does anyone know what kind of bee is in the first two photos. I found three or four of them in the hive.

Hive #2 seems to have a laying queen in it even though there was some speculation that she had gone missing also. I found covered brood and fresh laid eggs in a good pattern. So that is a relief.























I thank all who look and all who respond, any and all advice is welcome.

[nietssemaj]

Well looking at those pictures of comb.. you've got a laying worker in that hive.

As for the bee. Maybe someone else has a clue. Perhaps that is a laying worker. Not sure if they look different or not.

[don2]

Some type of wasp. :shock: :) d2

[Highlander]

Nietssemaj;  No doubt about that!  I am hoping for them to re-Queen, which they have started, by pulling those frames and adding empty foundation. Its not a worker, its about half the size of a honey bee.  The girls did not seem to bother it and it was eating stored syrup at one point.

Don2; Didn't even think of a wasp! 

[Michael Bush]

The fuzziness is confusing as wasps are usually smooth.  The proportions are wrong for a bee.

You have laying workers.

http://www.bushfarms.com/beeslayingworkers.htm