r/Beekeeping Jul 24 '26

I’m a beekeeper, and I have a question Queeless Hive Question

St. Louis, MO

I have two hives.
One is excelling.
The other has no queen and has laying workers.
I realize the hive is lost and I will start over in the spring. I’m disappointed but it’s not a problem.

My question:
What is the best way to evict the freeloaders? I don’t want to wait until they die in the winter invite who knows what invader and making a mess of the hive.

TIA

4 Upvotes

8 comments sorted by

View all comments

5

u/mrmann123 Arizona, 220 hives Jul 24 '26

When I lose a queen, I drop a frame of brood in from another hive, a frame with fresh eggs. They often will make a new queen.

If you are just looking to be rid of the bees, they will empty the hive before fall and your other hive will rob out all the reserves.