The Queen that Should Have Been

What a disappointment it was! I knew the odds were not in our favor. Only 30% chance that the new young queen would be accepted by the colony, at the green beehive in Shakopee. The workers-laying bees probably thought that they had a queen...after all they were caring for the eggs and larvae already. What they did not figure out was that those eggs and larvae are not from a queen but from a regular-Plain- Jane worker! I could they be so mislead? That's an oddity of nature.

As I looked carefully over each frame, the same scenario as last time was unrolling in front of my eyes. The honeybees did not do any more work, not much wax, 3-4 eggs per cell, some drones were capped, they look like the "kix"cereals, perfectly round.

They have that shape because drones (males) are a little bigger than their sisters, taking more space in the cell. Notice the pearly little larvae in the picture!

The honeybees also took the time and energy to make a cell reserved for queen. It looks like a little elongated tube sticking out of the foundation.

Another hint that the queen had not survived was the noise; the loud buzzing made by disorganized bees. After I closed the hive, I realized that I had send the queen to a "certain" death; I had released her onto the foundation hoping she would take charge...alas it was not meant to be.

This colony is now doomed, the workers will die of natural cause, ending the drone-laying cycle. The drones will starve because they do not forage and there is no reserve in the hive for them to eat. I have to mention that in nature, it would have been the same result. In trying to help, I wanted to defy "nature"...this time it did not work. It is by our failures that we learn. And I did! Something positive came out from that Greek "tragedy".

Since we have all the set up for a third beehive, we will start another one! Yes, we are stubborn or fools, time will tell! Now that we are almost mid-May and that we live in dear Minnesota the only viable option for us, because of our short season, is to start a new colony using what its called a "nuc" or nucleus. As the name implies: It is a small community of bees, 4-5 frames of capped brood, honey, pollen and worker bees taken from a healthy regular colony. A young new queen which is not related to any honeybees or brood already present, is added to the nuc. t My supplier in Stillwater will put one together for me, and I will pick it up next week. These few days will allow him to make sure the young queen is accepted and laying eggs. I want to put the odds in my favor this time!

Other positive development, the purple colony (Shakopee) is doing fine and filling the frames nicely. The honeybees had drank a lot of syrup, so we refilled up the 2 2-gallon buckets. We saw the queen, and the egg pattern is regular and orderly. The humming calm, as their state

of mind.

Julie, at the Chanhassen apiary, pouring the sugary syrup onto the buckets not gasoline! Don't be fool by the container!!!

In Chanhassen, the colony could not be better! The honeybees are peaceful, and happy. They are busy foraging. We also had to add sugar syrup. It is good that we visited them today because this week will be cooler, and less sunny than normal. When the temperatures get low and it is gloomy; the honeybees are just like us...they stay home! However, I have to feed them because they don't have enough reserve in their "pantry" unlike most Minnesotans who are unimpressed to have snow in May!!!

Overall both colonies are doing great. I am learning new things because of self-inflicted mishap, and natural wonder of nature. This is part of being a beekeeper, we are supposed to be faced with challenges, that make us think and solve problems. It is very rewarding.

Ben showing a good frame from the purple

hive in Shakopee.

Honey, nectar, larvae and pollen.