Lost Queen?
I finally got my package in today and the queen cage was only stapled on one end of the screen so the Queen got out. I saw what may been it flying around clumsily but couldn't catch it. Should I wait until I can have it replaced while the bees sit in their package or unload the package anyway tomorrow evening without the Queen and hope it comes back? I heard bees will often kill a new Queen if it hasn't been kept in the cage long enough.
Posted May 9, 2014, 1:47 AM UTC
15
How did she get out if you haven't installed them? If she got loose in the package she may have been killed but it is quite possible she is still alive. I would call the supplier and go ahead with the install. If it is gone it will not come back.
When I pulled the cage out I noticed the flap was open and a young worker had taken her place. A few bees escape out the top during taking the can out and I saw a much larger Bee flying about. I assume that was her. Will she still be around the package tomorrow evening?
Most likely what you saw was a drone she is probably in the package dead or alive. If she did fly which is unlikely she is gone for good. Was the screen wide open before you removed it from the cage?
It looked much bigger than the drones I did find. There was a bee in the cage, but it was not a queen. There was only a small gap but the Bee could have easily pushed itself out since the screen wasn't attached at all on one end. What we were thinking is the Queen might have fallen when we initially pulled the cage out which explains why it was still alive.
A queen that hasn't been laying isn't any bigger than a drone. There is a good chance shes still in the package as they are less likely to fly. I hope it turns out.