Heard of this: Laying workers in a hive with lots of brood?

[2Sox]

Subject line says it all. I have never seen this: brood in various stages of development and cells with two eggs along with eggs laid on the side of cells. No queen in sight.  I was taught to place frames of developing brood inside a laying worker hive for a couple of weeks and the problem is solved. ALWAYS worked for me.  Anyone know what?s going on?  By the way, this is after 20 days of Formic Pro.

[The15thMember]

Are you seeing a maximum of 2 eggs per cell?  From what I've heard, laying workers can lay many eggs in a cell, and you can even find eggs in pollen cells or elsewhere on the comb.  FormicPro can cause a supersedure.  I'm wondering if you have a newly laying queen in there who is just working out some kinks. 

[Ben Framed]

I agree with The15thMember on all counts, except the possibility of a new queen, and I would have agreed on that, except I learned from Iddee that a new queen will lay on the bottom of the cells, while laying workers lay on the sides. Even though a new queen may lay multiple eggs, these eggs will be on the bottom of the cells. There may be exceptions? Reagan may have hit the nail on the head to the mystery, the queen might have been laying which would explain brood of all stages, but then superseded or eliminated with the use of formic pro. There seems to be a consensus on the subject of queens and queen loss, being a sometimes problem of supersedure or queen elimination, when using formic and or formic pro; 'if not administered under' 'just right' conditions? Does this sound logical?   

[BeeMaster2]

2sox,
What are your temperatures?
I agree, you probably have a new queen. There is a good chance the queen was killed by the formic pro.
Jim Altmiller

[2Sox]

Thanks for the replies, gents.  Very useful. And I believe the points you each make are valid.

I see normally laid eggs - right at the center in the bottom - and then I spot cells with two eggs and some laid on the side. It is possible that I have a new queen, but all was normal when I put in the FP 20 days before. Don?t see how a QC could be built, hatched, a queen mated and starting to lay in that time.

The only thing I do know is what I see: Normally laid eggs, good amount of brood in various stages, and two eggs in a few cells with some laid on the side.

Jim,
Daytime temperatures are in the 70s. Nighttime in the 60s.

[BeeMaster2]

2sox,
Temperatures are good. High temperatures like we have down here most of the time are too high.
I would leave her alone for another 2 weeks and then see what the brood looks like.
Jim Altmiller

[Ben Framed]

2Sox
I see normally laid eggs - right at the center in the bottom

In that case you have a nice young queen! Congratulations!

[TheHoneyPump]

Per MB. - When you are confused by what you see and unsure what to do; the correct action to take is nothing. There are few beehive scenarios that are not self-fixed or clarified by time alone.  In such situations just put the lid back on and walk away for 10-12 days. When you come back, the status and what to do will be clear.

[2Sox]

Per MB. - When you are confused by what you see and unsure what to do; the correct action to take is nothing. There are few beehive scenarios that are not self-fixed or clarified by time alone.  In such situations just put the lid back on and walk away for 10-12 days. When you come back, the status and what to do will be clear.

I just LOVE this answer.  Thank you, HP.

[Bill Murray]

Per MB. - When you are confused by what you see and unsure what to do; the correct action to take is nothing. There are few beehive scenarios that are not self-fixed or clarified by time alone.  In such situations just put the lid back on and walk away for 10-12 days. When you come back, the status and what to do will be clear.

Spot on sometimes a newly mated queen will drop 2 eggs for a little while, until she get it together.

[Ben Framed]

2Sox it has been about 2 weeks. Have you had an opportunity to take another look?

[2Sox]

2Sox it has been about 2 weeks. Have you had an opportunity to take another look?

Yes. Just went in yesterday, actually.  No eggs at all.  Population dwindling. Combined with a strong colony with a double screen board.

[Ben Framed]

That?s a tough break 2Sox. I had hoped you had a queen.