dorado
06-02-2007, 03:06 PM
How soon does a new queen emerge after a the old queen has left with a swarm? I Know new queen cells have already been started and maybe capped when the swarm process begins, but do not know when a new queen will emerge, mate and start laying. I would think the timing to have a new laying queen would be much shorter than if a split is done.
Mike Gillmore
06-02-2007, 05:14 PM
The time line can vary. I've had swarms leave my hives with a virgin queen already out of her cell. The weather has some impact on it, extended periods of rain can hold the swarm back longer than they had planned.
I believe that the "norm" is for the swarm to depart just before the new queens are ready to emerge.
Then within 3-5 days she will start her mating flights. You then should see eggs within a week or two.