April 27: Lost Italian Queen!

4/27
Opened Italians. No eggs. I see queen cells and larvae which means the queen has died. I hope I didn't kill her. Feeling like a bad beekeeper today. I hope the battle for the monarchy will be quick and smooth. I wonder if the virgin will mate with the Russian drones?

4/26
Damage: 0 stings

Bought 2 pieces of 2' x 4' plywood. Propped cement blocks so hives about 8 inches above ground. Moved Italians over about a foot to the north. Moved Russians over about a foot so the hives are oriented in a diagonal (not directly aligned vertically or horizontally). Put a stick at the entrances. Should have done that before. Moving even a foot can disorient the returning field bees. Should move them only a couple feet per day with a branch at the entrance, so the field bees reorient themselves when they exit.

Worried about lack of sunlight.