Yeah, I know. And the year before, coming out of winter, it just barely made it. So, yes, I should have killed her. I don't know why many of my bees died out that last time. It could have been a bit of cold weather and the wrong time before they moved up to the 10 frames of honey. If just a happen chance, wouldn't that be worth trying? But then again, other bees might not have had the problem, so do I want to promote dumb bees?
Maybe I've read too much Huber, who did all kind of experiments with bees just because they were there. And since he couldn't see well, he made his assistant do all the busy work. But I just want to know. When adding a frame to an existing hive which is smaller than the frame being added.....?
See, if I can divide my existing boxes and get an extra queen, I'd like to find out by creating a similar situation. Of course things would be different, if something was wrong with my old queen, but the general logistics of saving minimum bees might be answered. I don't know why, but wanting to find an answer seems to fascinate me. Maybe no one else has bothered with such a lost cause. When there were only a dozen bees left, they seemed a lot more friendly....or is pathetic the word....