My 8 frame observation hive has swarmed twice this year, the last time was late July. The day they swarmed, I saw a healthy looking queen in the hive yet. She was fat and large that enough I figured she was fertile. I saw her laying just days later.
Lots of larvae and brood appeared and hatched, but lately the hive seemed to be dwindling down pretty good with no sign of any eggs, and all the larvae visible had finished hatching.
I have this hive at a local vegetable market along with my honey for sale. Well yesterday While contemplating taking it down and combining the remaining bees with another hive, I spot a queen and she?s laying, laying really well I?m now seeing young larvae too . The owner of the market was so also looking with me and while I was checking out the other side he says ?I thought there was only one I queen in a hive? and he says there?s two here.
Thinking he was Probably seeing a drone, I go to look and low and behold there is a second plump healthy looking queen that walks right by the other while she was laying.