Emergency Cells in nuc

[mherndon]

I made a nuc out of a strong hive that I didn't think had young enough eggs or larvae to make into a queen.  I received two queens today and started the introduction.  When I opened the nuc there were emergency cells started, but none were capped.  Did I kill my queen by putting her in with the emergency cells?  The bees did cover the container, but am not sure if they were anxious for her or ready to kill her.

Mark

[mherndon]

I made the nuc on Saturday the 9th of May 2pm.  The bees had been queenless since then or about 51 hours.  What do you think might happen?

Mark

[Brian D. Bray]

If the cells are uncapped it is possible the bees will tear them down instead of offing the boughten queen but it is just as probable that the queen is toast.  51 hours in plenty of time for the bees to begin building queen cells once the absence of the queen was noted (within 6 hours).