WHEN THE Queen Abdicates
Hobby Farms|March - April 2024
Without a queen to rule, your hive can't survive.
AMY GRISAK
WHEN THE Queen Abdicates

One of the worst feelings during a hive check is when the queen is nowhere to be found, nor are there new eggs at the bottom of uncapped comb. Life in the colony suddenly goes from an efficiently run community to a potentially perilous situation.

In nearly three decades of keeping bees in Montana, my husband and I have seen a lot of queens die. Some coups were planned. But more often, the need for a new queen arose because either something unexpected happened to her, or the colony decided they needed a new monarch.

Besides the desire to save the hive, our challenge is always how to minimize any downtime during our short summer season. Losing a queen at the wrong time might mean no honey harvest from that hive or slim odds for the colony’s survival heading into the winter. But regardless of when it happens, it’s always good to know the best way to handle a queenless situation.

 CREATION OF THE QUEEN

For eons prior to domestication, honeybees successfully managed queen succession. While we still don’t completely understand the decision-making process of a honeybee colony, the hive often knows when a queen is failing. In this case, the workers prepare for succession.

Queen cups, the beefier base of queen cells, are one indication, although their presence doesn’t necessarily mean the workers intend to raise a new queen, but it’s something to watch. On the other hand, if the elongated and somewhat peanut-shaped queen cells are present, something is amiss and the existing queen is on deck for succession, or a swarm is on the horizon.

Denne historien er fra March - April 2024-utgaven av Hobby Farms.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra March - April 2024-utgaven av Hobby Farms.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA HOBBY FARMSSe alt
The RISE of Opportunist WEEDS
Hobby Farms

The RISE of Opportunist WEEDS

Be prepared to see increasing changes in weeds we fight, such as poison hemlock and poison ivy, and in the crops we grow.

time-read
3 mins  |
January - February 2025
LIVESTOCK Health
Hobby Farms

LIVESTOCK Health

Prepare yourself for how to spot symptoms of illness in your farm animals so that you can get them help before it's too late.

time-read
6 mins  |
January - February 2025
CUT FLOWER Farming
Hobby Farms

CUT FLOWER Farming

If you're considering growing flowers for sale, brush up on these five key things to know before diving in.

time-read
3 mins  |
January - February 2025
WINTER Survival
Hobby Farms

WINTER Survival

Keep your land, animals and yourself in good shape this winter with this helpful advice.

time-read
5 mins  |
January - February 2025
COVERAGE CONCERNS
Hobby Farms

COVERAGE CONCERNS

Avoid common insurance mistakes for rural and hobby farm businesses.

time-read
7 mins  |
January - February 2025
FARMER'S GUIDE Berries
Hobby Farms

FARMER'S GUIDE Berries

Set the stage for tasty strawberries, blueberries and brambles with these soil-boosting garden tips.

time-read
6 mins  |
January - February 2025
Preconditioning CALVES
Hobby Farms

Preconditioning CALVES

Follow our step-by-step guide to get more money for your calves.

time-read
7 mins  |
January - February 2025
Soil Conservation
Hobby Farms

Soil Conservation

Often, outside of having a specific problem that needs to be addressed, soil conservation isn't something every farmer readily thinks about. Yet conserving the soil should be at or near the top of every farmer owner or manager's list of concerns because absent the prevention of soil erosion, we have the opportunity for another dust bowl.

time-read
4 mins  |
January - February 2025
Year-Round Lettuce & Salad Mixes
Hobby Farms

Year-Round Lettuce & Salad Mixes

It's easy to think of salad greens as just a spring- or fall-garden crop, but it's possible to enjoy freshly harvested lettuces, mustards and more from your own garden year-round.

time-read
6 mins  |
January - February 2025
Barn Improvements
Hobby Farms

Barn Improvements

Days are never long enough for a farmer. From dawn to well into the night, tasks arise that often require immediate action. Having to search for tools or equipment is an enormous time waster and incredibly frustrating when you can't find what you need, especially when you know you have it.

time-read
3 mins  |
January - February 2025