Two Queens in One Hive.
When removing some honey boxes on the 25th of July last, I found that a large strong stock had two queens. I see in Vol. V., No. 8, of the Journal, that Mr. E. M. Johnson discovered two queens in one of his hives in January. Before movable comb hives were used to any great extent, such a thing was considered impossible; but we hear of such cases frequently, now that we have easy access to the interior of our hives.
After removing the boxes, I placed them in my cellar, to have the bees go back to their hives; which they all did, except those in one box, which I found contained the queen that I had saved about a fortnight before, a few days after they had swarmed. In removing a frame of brood to give to a weak stock, when brushing off the bees in front of the hive, I saw there was a fine looking queen with them. She went into the hive and was received by the bees. Now, why was this queen in a box containing sealed honey? I should judge both queens were fertile. The bees had killed off their drones a number of days before, so that they did not think of swarming.
Now can we say positively that two queens are not tolerated in one hive? Is it not possible that the workers cluster around them, and keep them apart?
The next day, I returned the queen, after smoking both queen and bees. She was well received, and was all right the next time I opened the hive; and for all I know, they have two queens still. If other bee-keepers have such cases, I should be pleased to hear from them through the Journal.
A. Green.
Amesbury, Mass., Aug. 15, 1870.
[For The American Bee Journal.]