Help: Package Bees--The Queen Is DEAD!

[PeskySquirrel]

Installed my first ever package of bees today. All went really well with one exception: the queen is dead in the cage. I called my bee supplier and I'll be able to get a new queen tomorrow, but my question is: will my installed package fly away tonight/tomorrow morning because there's no queen? I've got the entrance reduced, but should I close it (so none can get out)? I should have the new queen installed by noon tomorrow (at least that's the plan). I appreciate your help.

[bassman1977]

You should be fine.  Just get her in the hive as soon as possible.

[PeskySquirrel]

I hope so. I'm feeling totally bummed. Of all the steps in my head that I was going through to install the bees, I just assumed the queen would be alive so I did not inspect her first. I feel like I blew it. Anyway, I guess time will tell. Could be my first costly mistake. Hope I don't end up needing a whole new package. Maybe other newbees can learn from my mistake.

[MustbeeNuts]

Sorry to hear about the queen, I wouldn't have given that a thought to be a problem? guess you never know what can go wrong, but its not something you could control, and since your supplier is giving you a replacement it should work itself out . Good luck tommorow.

[Michael Bush]

I've had this happen.  Odds are there was a queen loose in the package.  If not, then they will probably drift to the hive next door if there is one.  Otherwise they will probably hang around.