Queen less: next steps
If during a hive inspection you suspect the hive may be queen less, this guide can help with deciding what to do next. Though a hive cannot survive without a queen, bees are fairly resilient and can often fix the situation on their own. Sometimes the best action is simply to wait and let the hive recover.
1. Check for signs of a queen
Whatever made you think the queen is gone, the first step is to confirm whether the hive is truly queen less. Not finding the queen during an inspection is normal. She can hide even from experienced beekeepers. Look for evidence of a queen rather than hunting for her.
What to inspect
- Eggs: Can you see eggs? Eggs mean they were laid within ~3 days (they are sometimes easy to miss).
- Larvae: Can you see larvae? Larvae mean eggs were laid within ~9 days (much easier to see).
- Capped brood: Can you see capped brood? Capped brood means eggs were laid within ~20–23 days.
What next
- Yes, I have eggs: Go to 2. If you have eggs, were they fertilized?.
- No, I can’t find eggs: Go to 3. Are there queen cells?.
2. If you have eggs, were they fertilized?
Not only queens lay eggs. If a hive has been without a queen for a long period (often 3–4 weeks), the lack of a queen and young brood can cause a worker’s ovaries to develop; she may start laying eggs. This is a laying worker. Eggs from a laying worker all develop into drones because they are not fertilized. (Bee castes)
What to inspect
- Count eggs: How many eggs are in each cell?
- Capped brood: Is the capped brood flat or domed?
Laying workers often cannot physically reach the bottom center of a cell the way a queen can. If you see eggs on the sides and edges of cells, particularly multiple eggs in a cell, you likely have a laying worker. Look at the whole frame: a few cells with multiple eggs can happen, but if most cells have multiple eggs, that points to a laying worker and unfertilized eggs.
Capped worker brood is flat; capped drone brood is taller and domed. It is normal to see drone brood around the edges, top, and bottom of frames, and common to see patches of drone brood. If you see no worker brood and most brood looks like drones, you probably do not have fertilized eggs.
What next
- Eggs aren’t fertilized: Go to 8. You have a laying worker.
- Eggs are fertilized: You likely have a queen; check again in about a week to confirm.
3. Are there queen cells?
There are many reasons a hive may become queenless. New queen cells can hint at the cause and show whether the hive is on track to raise a new queen. If the queen died or disappeared and the hive still had viable fertilized eggs, bees trigger the emergency response and build emergency cells. If the hive swarmed, they often began queen cells before the old queen left. If the queen was still there but the bees judged her failing, they may have built supersedure cells; a new virgin queen may have emerged and replaced the old queen. The terms swarm, supersedure, and emergency only describe why the bees built the cells—the cells themselves are fundamentally the same structure.
What to inspect
- Supersedure or emergency cells: Usually a few, on the face of the comb where bees upgraded a worker cell. They can hide under bees and irregular comb, look carefully.
- Swarm cells: Usually many, often hanging from the bottom of the frame.
What next
- Yes, I have queen cells: Go to 4. Establish a timeline.
- No cells: Circle back to 1. Check for signs of a queen and be very sure before continuing to 5. Decide whether to raise or buy a queen.
4. Establish a timeline
If your bees began raising a new queen from an egg that hatched today (start of the larval stage), you might expect a laying queen again in ~24 days, depending on weather and mating. By noting the stage of the queen cells, you can estimate how far along the bees already are. The queen development page lists each stage; subtract the days you think have already passed from the ~28-day span from when the egg was laid until she is typically laying.
What next
- Record your days until a new queen: Go to 5. Decide whether to raise or buy a queen.
5. Decide whether to raise or buy a queen
Now it is decision time.
Letting the bees raise their own queen is not guaranteed to work, but it is the path we nearly always choose. If it fails, they can try again (only if you have another hive and can donate a frame of eggs and young larvae). The downside is that while you wait the colony’s population may shrink instead of grow, which can affect honey production. As another option, if you have several frames with queen cells and it is still early enough in the season for splits, that can be a good opportunity to split and raise more than one queen.
Buying a queen is often seen as the surer option, but acceptance is not guaranteed either. A purchased queen still needs time to establish and lay; it is often still faster than waiting for a home-raised queen to emerge and mate unless you are already very late in the process. The tradeoff is mainly cost.
What next
- I want to raise a queen: Go to 6. Raise a new queen.
- I want to buy a queen: Go to 7. Buy a new queen.
6. Raise a new queen
Queen cells are fragile, and virgin queens are skittish and can fly. If you are letting the bees finish the job, close the hive and leave it alone for the number of days you estimated when you built your timeline. When that window has passed, start again at 1. Check for signs of a queen to see whether you have evidence of a new queen. Mating can be delayed by poor weather—consider give the new queen ~5 extra days before you give up on her.
If this fails and you do not end up with a laying worker, you can move a frame of eggs and larvae from a queenright hive (shake the bees off first) so this colony can try again.
What next
- Wait patiently: Circle back to 1. Check for signs of a queen.
7. Buy a new queen
If you buy a queen, destroy every queen cell the bees made before you introduce her. Search carefully and diligently so none are missed. After you receive the queen, follow the supplier’s instructions for installation (or ask them directly).
We often have queens available contact us.
8. You have a laying worker
A laying worker hive is difficult. A purchased queen is often rejected and may be killed. Fixing a laying worker situation is its own topic, research options and talk with a mentor. Without intervention, the hive is doomed. Some beekeepers successfully requeen after specific steps; sometimes it is simpler to shake out the bees and combine with a strong colony.