Moving virgins

[enrico]

Ok
I need some help here!
Next week I move house from the Welsh marches to Somerset. I had cut my hives down to two in number to make it easy to move them. But.....today one of them swarmed. I can't get the prime swarm as it is too high but I loosed a couple of virgins. One for the main hive and one in a nuc with a couple of frames of bees. I move the bees next Sunday. If they haven't mated here before I go and I move them to a new area will she mate at her new home! Do the drones have to have some knowledge of the area so to speak!
Not a lot I can do other than hope for the best but I just wondered if those that know most things could advise please!
E

 

[snelgrove]

If they fly out and orientation happens yu will more than likely lose them at the new site. I would have caged a couple at birth with some workers and introduced them at new site.

 

[Anduril]

I read that the drones find the queen by smell. If you use beebase and you know where your apiary will be, tap the details in and see how many apiaries are in your area. Drones also like open spaces, I can't see it being a problem.

 

[Anduril]

If they fly out and orientation happens yu will more than likely lose them at the new site. I would have caged a couple at birth with some workers and introduced them at new site.

As Enrico will have two hives, then he will have the security of a frame of eggs from the other hive. Also if the entrance if blocked for a couple of days then reorientation will occur.

 

[snelgrove]

As Enrico will have two hives, then he will have the security of a frame of eggs from the other hive. Also if the entrance if blocked for a couple of days then reorientation will occur.

I would not be to sure about reorientation of queens, the slightest disturbance of the entrance position can result in loss.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Ok
If they haven't mated here before I go and I move them to a new area will she mate at her new home! Do the drones have to have some knowledge of the area so to speak!

E

Heavens enrico......not a nice send off from The Marches.
There is a theory that experienced foragers know where the DCAs are and guide virgin queens to them.
Some....finman? think that's rubbish
I think I'd cage them till I move and for a couple of days after so that the foragers at least get a good look round?
Good luck

 

[hedgehog66]

Queens get sent off to remote mating areas and manage to get mated sucessfully so i really dont think it will be a problem.
Keep us posted and good luck with the move

 

[snelgrove]

Queens get sent off to remote mating areas and manage to get mated sucessfully so i really dont think it will be a problem.
Keep us posted and good luck with the move

As I have said, if they have flown from a hive and the hive is moved that's when problems occur. As for getting mated there are plenty of drones in most areas. You would have to be in the middle of the Sahara desert

 

[Hivemaker.]

As I have said, if they have flown from a hive and the hive is moved that's when problems occur

Yes I agree, the hive won't be there when they return, an obvious problem there.

 

[enrico]

As I have said, if they have flown from a hive and the hive is moved that's when problems occur. As for getting mated there are plenty of drones in most areas. You would have to be in the middle of the Sahara desert

I won't be moving them mid mate, unless she stays out all night! I will close them up one night and move them the following day. Thanks for the advice, will be an interesting experiment!
E

 

[snelgrove]

Yes I agree, the hive won't be there when they return, an obvious problem there.

Not what I meant, if queens have flown out of a hive and returned , then the hive is moved that's when problems occur

 

[enrico]

Bit confused snelgrove, why should that be a problem? If she has mated and then I move the hive why should there be problems?
E

 

[snelgrove]

you are moving them a week after hatching, chances are she will have been out. That's my point, good luck hope it goes well.

 

[snelgrove]

Bit confused snelgrove, why should that be a problem? If she has mated and then I move the hive why should there be problems?
E

No problem if mated. How many queens mate in a week??

 

[enrico]

Ah I think I see
So if she has had one mating flight and then I move her and then she goes out for another I could be in trouble. Sorry, a bit slow! Too many packing box'shave addled my brain. I'll let you know what happens, hopefully this week will be too wet for her to go out!
Thanks
E

 

[snelgrove]

Ah I think I see
So if she has had one mating flight and then I move her and then she goes out for another I could be in trouble. Sorry, a bit slow! Too many packing box'shave addled my brain. I'll let you know what happens, hopefully this week will be too wet for her to go out!
Thanks
E

Not just mating flights more like a orientation flight in first week. Disturbance of a colony when a virgin is present in a colony is not recommended. However I hope it goes well, good luck.

 

[TryingToLetThemBee]

Ah I think I see
So if she has had one mating flight and then I move her and then she goes out for another I could be in trouble. Sorry, a bit slow! Too many packing box'shave addled my brain. I'll let you know what happens, hopefully this week will be too wet for her to go out!
Thanks
E

She's still a bee; all that royal jelly won't have recoded her satnav. As an example, I lost a mated Q on introduction. Up up up into the wild blue yonder. But she came back. You're moving further than she would ever have flown.

 

[BeeJayBee]

I can't see why it should be a problem. The workers will know they're somewhere new, I'm sure they'll make sure the queen knows where her home is.

But I'd probably do my best to protect the queens during the journey, just in case something goes wrong.

 

[Finman]

.
Advice: Buy couple laying queens.

.

 

[Nige.Coll]

There is a theory that the virgin queen is escorted by experienced foragers who know the area and protect her during the flight.
Moving the hive could delay the mating while the area is mapped.

I don't think the queen has the brains to map the area in enough detail to remember the way home alone.