Sorry if this should be in 101. Bee math question: A queenless hive given a frame of open brood to make emergency cells, as needed. On May 21st, the first queen emerged, but appeared to have DWV or chewed wings, looked as if she'd never fly, so into the pheromone jar she went. Three additional cells were still capped. Not wanting to disturb the colony too often, I went back in on the 25th, and saw all cells open and a nice looking queen. Now, I understand they "harden" or mature for about three days to a week before mating flights. The main potential problem is weather. After the first three days, it rained/showered for the next week. The following week it was sunny but with wind starting at noon and blowing until sunset. I've read virgins want calm sunny days to fly. So, will the mating urge force them out under less than ideal conditions, or will they sit in the hive waiting for better conditions until they are past mating window? I've read on M. Bush site something about twenty days after emergence, it not mated or mated after the twentieth day, they'll never lay workers. She emerged probably on the 21st or 22nd, and had two weeks of bad to marginal weather. As of June 8th, there is no sign of eggs. She's in there wandering around, exploring cells with her face, but not laying. The workers don't act like I've seen with mated queens, no real retinue. They crawl over her, bump into her, don't really move out of her way. In a minute or two of observation she was not once groomed or fed. If my math is right, this weekend, or somewhere from June 12 -15, if I don't see eggs I probably never will (unless they're drones, of course).
Sound right?
( Maybe "Queen timing"...
