Laying worker problem

[Neonach]

Spring weather here in Hebrides was out-of-character glorious ... but May was absolutely attrocious. A colony at a remote apiary lost at least half its population including the queen. (weather so bad I was reluctant to disturb - had I done so I know I should have applied emergency feeding) Queen was not good however and needed superseding. However in absence of queen a worker has started laying - and of course as time goes by there are more and more drones, fewer and fewer workers. I could introduce a new queen (or graft in a queen cell) or unit the population with another colony, but I've dithered because I am worried that the laying worker will go on laying, swamping the colony with drones. Advice urgently needed on this, because as each day goes by the good workers there are just slowy dying off. Any suggestions?

[Jon]

There is a good summary of all your options on Michael Bush's website.
It is actually dozens if not hundreds of workers which are laying.
I would not risk losing a mated queen but introducing a queen cell might work.
If you have several colonies shaking it out in front of the strongest one is probably the safest option.

http://www.bushfarms.com/beeslayingworkers.htm