maybe a dumb question. I installed 2 packaged back on 4/14 checked and located both queens. I know the eggs are maybe hard for me to see if they are there.
Do they have enough drawn comb to for her to lay? Also, when you pull a frame, hold it up to the sunlight. Your comb is probably white, and so are the eggs. Look for a tiny little rice looking thing dead center of the cell.....
I think it's usually around day 9 (after the egg is laid) that the cell is capped. Prior to that you should see several stages of larvae including some plump shiny ones that fill the cell pretty well.
memory tool for brood, rule of threes
egg 3 days
larvae 2 times 3 days or 6 days
pupa 4 times 3 or 12
for total 7 times 3 or 21 days
Africanized are about a day shorter toward the latter stages
The problem is predicting when the queen will start to lay. She may lay as soon as any comb is 1/4" deep (the first or second day) or she may not start for two weeks. More likely something in between.
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