09/11/2026
Are your bees going backwards? Are they broodless? Or Queenless? How can you know the difference and what can be done?
We are seeing a common pattern right now where beekeepers are finding either a decline in brood growth or no new brood at all in the nest.
That is not uncommon this time of year. This is not the main growing season, and many colonies slow down when the heat is high and natural resources are limited.
Some hives may truly be queenless, but others may simply not be bringing in enough pollen and/or nectar to support brood production. When resources are limited, bees will self-regulate. They may consume eggs and even young larvae when there is not enough food coming in to raise them.
Many areas are in a full dearth right now, while other areas may still have some resources available depending on location. For example, some places may have irrigated crops in bloom or neighborhoods with watered landscapes. Other areas are in what we call the "South Central Texas Bakery".
Even though a few flowers may still be lingering in the landscape, with temperatures reaching triple digits daily, those flowers may not be producing much nectar or pollen.
The main point is this: if there is no pollen and no nectar coming in, bees cannot produce enough royal jelly to raise brood, as shown in the attached image. They may consume the eggs as fast as the queen lays them, which can make the hive appear queenless even when a queen is present.
If you have plenty of nectar and pollen stored in the brood nest area and still do not see eggs or fresh larvae, then it is more likely the hive may not have a queen.
When there is little or no natural pollen and nectar available, and we want colonies to continue growing, we provide pollen patties and a nectar supplement, such as sugar syrup, and then give them a few days to see if brood production picks back up.
Again, this time of year is hot, and colonies will often cut back on brood production when there is not enough food coming in.
With all of that said, we do have queens available for pick up on the 26th of this month. (possibly sooner, but with limited hours for appointments.)
If you have enough bees to support a new queen, that may be a good option. We like to see at least a couple of frames of worker bees before adding a queen. A queen needs a supporting cast.
If there are not enough bees left in the hive to care for her, feed brood, and build back up, simply adding a queen may not be the best solution.
Many times, we will add a nuc to a dwindling hive or combine that hive with a stronger queen-right colony using the newspaper method. That helps protect and preserve the existing bees, comb, honey, pollen, and equipment from being overrun by wax moths and hive beetles.
