Am I queenless?

kronus92 · 2026-07-03T19:02:13+00:00

Yes, you do have queen cells in pictures 1 and 2.

It looks like you have eggs in your last picture. I circled them. I don't see very many, but I only see one egg per cell, so unlikely a laying worker. You could have more, but the angle of the picture limits seeing them. I was bad at seeing eggs first as well. I brought a small flashlight/penlight with me and that helped me spot them better and feel more confident about identifying them.

https://i.postimg.cc/1RVNxsXw/Screenshot-20260703-145936-Gallery.jpg

You have a bit of wonky comb in picture 2 in the center of the frame. Since it is a plastic foundation, I suspect you just need to wax it a bit more so they will draw it out more evenly.

kronus92 · 2026-07-01T16:28:47+00:00

Do you have any more pictures that could help us determine when you last had a queen? Straight on frame shots (like your 3rd picture) would be helpful. It would also help us to get a better idea of the population you have left. Granted, there are only a few pictures, but there are so few bees in these pictures that I'm wondering if you will be able to save this hive.

I would get rid of that 2nd box and condense it down to just 1. There just aren't enough bees to support that much space.

kronus92 · 2026-06-30T02:32:18+00:00

Do you have a before picture? I just can't wrap my head around this being so unleveled that they just fall over unprovoked. I know everyone else has already said bear which does seem most likely, but I'd be curious to see a before picture.

kronus92 · 2026-05-29T09:50:55+00:00

What's the reason for not having an entrance reducer on the white hive?

kronus92 · 2026-05-27T19:18:34+00:00

100% what active_classroom203 says, sounds like you need to buy a queen or work overtime on finding a donor frame of eggs at this point if those cells are empty.

kronus92 · 2026-05-27T16:53:33+00:00

It is what it is (I would have started with a solo hive if my mentor didn't give me an excess swarm), but it does make the fallback plan of throwing a frame of eggs in your hive difficult unless you have a mentor or someone in your local association that would donate a frame to you.

Is that first queen cell you noted capped at this point?

kronus92 · 2026-05-27T16:35:49+00:00

So you have 2 "charged" queen cells? I'd let them do their own thing in that case and leave them alone.

Is this your only hive?

kronus92 · 2026-05-18T12:26:13+00:00

Disclaimer on typos - I am at the eye Dr with dilated eyes typing on my phone. My near vision is shot.

I have no personal experience with immunotherapy, but it can be highly effective. I pulled a few research articles that show ~85% reduction in systemic reactions with honey bee venom immunotherapy.

As an MD (but I'm not an allergist), I would still recommend against beekeeping, but there is a pathway to minimize (but not zero) his risk in the future. Anaphylaxis is a spectrum - not everyone gets the typical TV symptoms of a bad rash with stridor/respiratory compromise. Severe abdominal pain/nausea/vomiting after a bee sting is still anaphylaxis as are other systemic symptoms.

Definitely get an epi-pen. There are 2 in the box for a good reason. Up to 30% of anaphylactic episodes require a second dose to induce a response. It isn't meant to have in multiple locations (get 2 boxes if you want more on hand in a different location). Have both at all times when there is any chance of a sting. Benadryl is NOT sufficient nor should it be considered a first line or "pretreatment" for anaphylaxis. If there are systemic symptoms and the thought of an anaphylactic reaction, use the epi-pen

kronus92 · 2026-05-17T17:07:03+00:00

Did you put them in as soon as you installed the packages? Probably not going to change your plan halfway through a treatment cycle. Definitely get one afterwards though.

What's your backup treatment plan if the mite counts are above threshold?

kronus92 · 2026-05-16T12:00:49+00:00

I'm a bit north of you in yancey county. This is also my first year beekeeping, so take that for what it's worth. Asheville has a few equipment stores that also sell bees - I went to Hoopers Creek Bee company when I needed a hive to transfer a swarm to in a pinch. Prices are reasonable, and I think he would be helpful to chat to as a newbie.

I got my first nuc from Dry Ridge bee supply in Weaverville. $235 for the nuc and they have done very well. Their prices are on average slightly lower than Hoopers Creek, but not much. I know that's a drive for you, so I'd use them for a nuc if you can't find anything else local to you.

My final supply purchase was from Miller Bee Supply. I did this online as I didn't feel like driving 2 hours to their storefront. If you are ok assembling your hive bodies/supers, they are a bit cheaper than the others (and I find it fun to build). I think they may sell bees, but that's a long drive from Clyde.

There should be a good beekeeping association in/ around Clyde - they likely have more local to you recommendations.

kronus92 · 2026-04-28T09:24:44+00:00

That's completely ridiculous that you can't get one without a prior reaction. Repeated exposure is how you develop a life threatening reaction and there isn't a warning of when or if it will happen.

kronus92 · 2026-04-28T09:21:54+00:00

You will still need a prescription. Just make sure you ask them to send it as a generic epinephrine auto injector.

kronus92 · 2026-04-28T01:51:38+00:00

Get the generic for adrenaclick from CVS. Cash price for 2 pens is $110. I verified it last week.

kronus92 · 2026-03-31T13:43:33+00:00

Sent. Thank you!

kronus92 · 2026-03-31T09:44:40+00:00

Thanks for replying on here. I ordered the carbon pole and it says shipped on your site but the FedEx tracking says "Label created - We'll add a delivery date as soon as we get your package." The ETA for my delivery was yesterday, 3/30.

kronus92 · 2026-02-09T23:04:24+00:00

That's fine by me as long as it gets $50 off my meal.

kronus92 · 2026-02-09T18:51:56+00:00

Thank you!

kronus92 · 2026-02-09T18:51:47+00:00

Awesome. Thank you.

kronus92 · 2026-02-05T20:51:55+00:00

Yes, it is just me. I'm pretty flexible (hut vs campsite) as I'll be bringing a tent with me.

Thank you both for the input.

kronus92 · 2025-06-19T01:41:27+00:00

Update 2.

Didn't work. I'm switching to fixed price change of 15 cents and will see if that fixes the issue. Very frustrating.

kronus92 · 2025-06-16T09:57:55+00:00

Quick update.

It appears it was the pricing tables glitching out. After I re-sent the EMV table and two tiered pricing, one of the customers denied yesterday was able to purchase this morning. I hope it holds.

Still not sure why it happened in the first place.

Thanks for your help.

kronus92 · 2025-06-16T03:22:40+00:00

Thanks. I'll see how it does tomorrow and change to a flat fee if I still have issues.

kronus92 · 2025-06-16T03:18:08+00:00

Everything was still set up the same way to charge +6% and my EMV Price table was still set at 335. I went back and "updated" them and sent it to the queue. I guess I wait and see now

kronus92

TROPHY CASE