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is the lifeblood of a hive? Without her, the entire colony could perish. As beekeepers, it’s our responsibility to keep a close eye on our queen bee. So, have you checked on your queen bee lately?It’s important to note that a queen bee’s egg-laying may decrease or even halt completely during October or November, even if there are still pollen stores in the hive’s combs. The colony’s resilience is truly tested during the cold winters. Under subtropical and mild winter conditions, egg-laying usually ceases.
If it’s not winter or the colder months and your queen bee stops laying eggs, it’s time to investigate. Why has your queen bee stopped laying, and what should you do about it?
Unraveling the Mystery: Why Your Queen Bee Isn’t Laying Eggs
A typical honey bee colony is a bustling community of about 60,000 workers, a few hundred drones, and one queen bee. The queen bee’s primary role is to lay eggs, and the colony’s activities fluctuate with the seasons.
The period from September to December is like the start of a new year for a honeybee colony. The colony’s condition during this time significantly influences its prosperity in the upcoming year. As autumn arrives, the influx of nectar and pollen into the hive decreases. Consequently, the hive reduces brood rearing and the population begins to dwindle.
Depending on the queen bee’s age and egg-laying condition, the proportion of older bees in the colony decreases. The younger bees will survive the winter, while the older ones will not.
As the nectar supply in the field dwindles, the worker bees expel the drones from the hive and prevent their return. This leads to the death of the drones and a reduction in honey consumption, which is crucial for the remaining bees’ survival during winter. It’s during this time that the queen bee ceases to lay eggs. This is a normal part of the bees’ lifecycle, and nothing to worry about.
Another reason your queen might stop laying eggs is a “brood break,” a strategy bees use to control the spread of brood disease. A queen taking a brood break is not a cause for concern, and she should resume laying eggs soon.
But what if your queen isn’t laying eggs, and it’s not between September and December? This is where things can get a bit tricky. A lack of eggs and brood could be the first sign of a queenless colony.
Interestingly, you can observe these symptoms in your hive even if your colony still has a queen. This is more common than you might think! Your queen may have stopped laying because she is no longer fertile.
Action Plan: What To Do When Your Queen Bee Isn’t Laying
Once you’ve determined why your queen bee isn’t laying eggs, it’s time to take action. If it’s not winter, you’re likely dealing with a queenless hive. But don’t panic! If you’ve been diligent with your hive inspections, you have ample time to address this issue without causing significant harm to the bees or their hive.
If you have more than one hive, you’re in luck! You can provide the queenless hive with a frame from one of your other hives that contains a few eggs or very young brood.
If your hive is queenless, it will start queen cells on that frame of brood immediately. The only exception to this is when a hive has been without a queen for 30 days. By then, the hive will have so many laying workers that they won’t start queen cells.
By this point, your hive will not only be queenless but also completely broodless and very weak. Many of the foragers will abandon a queenless hive. However, this is not a major concern if you conduct inspections at least every other week to ensure that your hives are queen-right!
If you’re interested, I’ve written another article titled “Things to do if your queen bee is gone” that you might find helpful. You can read it here.
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When You Need to Buy a New Queen
So, when should you let your bees raise their own queen? A naturally bred queen has the advantage of possessing feral genes, which can lead to a stronger and healthier colony. You can increase the chances of this by taking brood from one of your best hives. This is a simpler solution and it doesn’t cost a penny.
However, there are situations where it’s not feasible to give a brood to your hive or let them raise a new queen. In some cases, when your hive has been queenless for a certain period, you’ll need to buy a replacement queen to ensure the survival of your colony.
We all know how to buy a new queen and introduce her to the hive. If you’re unsure, check out one of my previous articles, “Things to do if a queen bee is missing.” But there’s a specific timeframe during queenlessness when you can buy a new queen and introduce her to the hive.
Here’s a timeline of queenlessness to give you a general idea:
Understanding the Timeline of Queenlessness:
- If there’s no brood of any kind, the population is weak, workers are laying, there are robbers, or wax worms are taking over, your hive has been queenless for too long to save. In this case, it’s best to shake it out and start anew.
- If there are only capped drone broods, your hive has been queenless for less than three weeks.
- If there’s no brood of any kind, but the population is strong, your hive has been queenless for over three weeks or at least 24 days. If the population inside the hive is still robust and the bees have cleaned out a comb for the queen to lay eggs, you can introduce a new queen to your hive as soon as possible.
Keep in mind, it takes a hive about twelve days to raise a new queen, and that queen another week at least to harden up and get mated. After that, it takes her another week to start laying. This is why it’s so crucial for you to always know the status of your queen bee and her presence in your hive.
I’ve written an intriguing article titled “Can a bee hive really have two queens?” that you might find interesting. You can read it here.
Wrapping Up
In conclusion, ensuring that your colony has a queen should be your top priority during hive inspections. Early detection of a queenless hive is crucial for the survival of your colony. A great way to stay on top of your beekeeping game is to keep a record of your observations!
Make a habit of noting down what you see in your hive during each inspection. This way, you won’t forget to check for eggs! If you discover that your colony is queenless, carefully consider all your options and decide whether you’d prefer to buy a queen or let your colony raise its own.
Remember, queenlessness is a problem that won’t resolve itself!
Title: Understanding and Managing the Phenomenon of Non-Laying Queen Bees
The success and longevity of a bee colony hinges on the fecundity of the queen bee, given her vital role in producing new workers to sustain the hive. Hence, when a queen bee ceases to lay eggs, the beekeeper will often be filled with trepidation, understandably so. This article aims to provide insights into why your queen bee may potentially be unable to lay eggs and offer practical solutions to address this concern.
The Crux of the Matter: Why Your Queen Bee Isn’t Laying Eggs
Several factors may contribute to a queen bee refraining from laying eggs. Foremost among these are seasonal changes, age of the queen, hive conditions, disease or parasites, as well as stress factors.
1. Seasonal Changes: During winter, queens naturally curtail egg-laying due to the reduced availability of resources and colder temperatures. This phenomenon can be more pronounced in regions with harsh winters.
2. Queen’s Age: A queen bee’s most prolific egg-laying period is within the first two years of her life. As she ages, her egg production gradually reduces and may eventually stop altogether due to depletion of sperm or age-related issues.
3. Hive Conditions: If the hive conditions are not conducive, the queen might stop laying eggs. This could be due to limited space for her to lay eggs, or lack of food resources and worker bees to incubate the brood and gather nourishments.
4. Disease or Parasites: Pests like Varroa mites or diseases such as Nosema or American Foulbrood can affect the queen’s ability to lay eggs. In some cases, it may also lead to queen’s death and colony collapse.
5. Stress Factors: Changes in the hive, frequent disturbances, or the presence of toxins or pesticides in the environment can stress the queen, resulting in halted or reduced egg-laying.
Navigating the Problem: What to Do
Addressing the non-egg laying issue necessitates a thorough understanding of these causes, followed by a systematic approach to rectify any identifiably negative conditions.
1. Patience during Winters: Understand that decreased egg-laying is routine in colder temperatures. Monitor the hive, but avoid unnecessary interference.
2. Re-Queening: If the queen is of considerable age, it may be beneficial to introduce a new, younger queen to the hive. This process, termed ‘re-queening,’ ensures a healthy, fertile queen capable of maintaining hive productivity.
3. Improve Hive Conditions: As a preemptive measure, always ensure that the hive conditions are optimal. Regularly check to ascertain whether the hive has ample room and resources for the queen to continue her egg-laying activity.
4. Disease and Pest Control: Regular hive checks will also help detect potential diseases and pests. Should you suspect such a situation, swiftly seek professional help or use trusted treatments to rid the hive of these destructive entities.
5. Mitigate Stress: Limit hive inspection frequency to minimal necessary checks and avoid using harmful chemicals near the beehives.
It is pertinent for any beekeeper to remember that the well-being of their queen bee is pivotal to the prosperity of their beekeeping endeavor. By understanding the reasons why a queen might cease her egg-laying duties and active participation in improving hive conditions, beekeepers can ensure a healthy, productive colony. Also, it is important to collaborate with local beekeeping associations or seek expert advice when dealing with complex issues to ensure the well-being of these valuable pollinators.
