Large white larvae

[Tulipwood]

Temperatures were near 60 today so I took off my supers to place another pollen patty on top of the brood box. There were several large white larvae that appeared to be on top of or only slightly encased by irregular wax comb structure. I don't if I broke off the top of their wax casings or what. This is only my second year beekeeping. The larvae where white and about 3/4" long. Could these be queen cells I accidentally broke open, or regular brood cells?

[Michael Bush]

If they are vertical and peanut like they would be queen cells. If they are smoth and horizontal and have domed cappings they'd be drones. I doubt they are workers since they would not be 3/4" of an inch long.

[sqkcrk]

Yup, sound like drone cells to me too. This is a good place to look for varroa. If you have very many they show up real well in the drone brood that occurs between the supers.

[Tulipwood]

I surprised at how big it is. Next time I will look for mites.