I attempted 22 grafts on July 5 and had 19 successful queen cells (which is a record % for me). I made up 8 mating nucs and took 3 to one yard and 5 to another yard. I inserted cells from the same grafting frame into all 8 nucs. The yards are about 10 miles from one another. This weekend (August 3) I checked on all 8 nucs for queens.
In the yard with 3 nucs, I found three fat mated queens. All were laying good patterns and one even had a dozen or so brood cells capped.
In the yard with 5 nucs, I found 3 virgins (could barely distinguish them from workers), no eggs, no larva. There is a possibility that the other two also contained virgins that I either did not see, or were out being mated at the time.
Any similar experiences?
In the yard with 3 nucs, I found three fat mated queens. All were laying good patterns and one even had a dozen or so brood cells capped.
In the yard with 5 nucs, I found 3 virgins (could barely distinguish them from workers), no eggs, no larva. There is a possibility that the other two also contained virgins that I either did not see, or were out being mated at the time.
Any similar experiences?