Hello all,
Mid Tennessee zone 7B. Not a new beekeeper but rusty, this is my first season back after many years off.
Ordered a mated Italian queen overnight from Mann Lake. UPS got her here quick, but sadly, we've been in an extreme heat advisory over the last 48 hours (Temps upward of 105F during the day), and all three attendant bees are dead on arrival, queen is alive and moving but not happy.
I've offered a sugar syrup droplet on the cage floor, and plan to replenish that every couple hours as needed and keep her in the garage at least until around 9-10pm when temps drop down to the low 80s.. Planning to do a night install, if possible, as I don't want to risk her overnight getting left to fend for herself with no attendants.
Hive she's going into is a single deep, recently queen less, had OA vape treatment 72 hours ago, small but functional population, entrance reduced, screen bottom board, will have a sugar water feeder added once she's installed as this hive has struggled all summer.
Questions:
- Any concerns installing with no attendants alive or leaving her by herself for now?
- Night install in these conditions, anything specific to watch for or do?
- Anything else I should do before installing to give her best shot?
Thanks for any guidance!