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I understand there will be a couple of eggs in the cells, but does that also mean there will be more than one larva in the cells?
Laying worker question
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Normally speaking what happens when there are more then 1 egg in the cell is that the workers will get rid of the extras. However, it takes a while for the workers to catch up sometimes. That is why we can usually see that there are more then 1 egg. Now here is what you need to know as well.
1. Laying workers cause very spotty brood which is ALL drone.
2. Laying workers will normally have more then one egg in a cell but almost Always they will NOT be in the center of the cell but on the sides.
3. It is NOT uncommon to find more then 1 larva in the cell as sometimes the workers don't get rid of the extras.
4. If you are finding only drone brood, and only in actual drone cells, suspect a drone laying queen instead.
1. Laying workers cause very spotty brood which is ALL drone.
2. Laying workers will normally have more then one egg in a cell but almost Always they will NOT be in the center of the cell but on the sides.
3. It is NOT uncommon to find more then 1 larva in the cell as sometimes the workers don't get rid of the extras.
4. If you are finding only drone brood, and only in actual drone cells, suspect a drone laying queen instead.
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Thanks. I have trouble spoting eggs. I need to purchase a magnifying glass. I'm doing a trap out, I supplied the trap out bees with a frame of brood with queen cells. I noticed the larva 25 days later. I dont want to bother the bees searching for the queen. I felt good when I spoted the larva so I closed up the hive, but now I'm questioning could that have been a laying worker. The pattern of larva was good.
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It sounds like your new queen is laying fine. Young queens will often lay multiple eggs in a cell - but unlike laying workers they will be at the bottom of the cell and centered. Laying worker eggs are generally on the wall of the cell and not at the bottom. (The abdomen of a laying worker isn't long enough to reach the cell bottom)
>I understand there will be a couple of eggs in the cells
Usually five or six. Sometimes more...
> but does that also mean there will be more than one larva in the cells?
Briefly there are two larvae in some cells, but the bees will remove one eventually. Sometimes they will remove both...
Double eggs mean nothing really. Queens often lay double eggs when they are just starting or when they are crowded as far as room to lay.
Usually five or six. Sometimes more...
> but does that also mean there will be more than one larva in the cells?
Briefly there are two larvae in some cells, but the bees will remove one eventually. Sometimes they will remove both...
Double eggs mean nothing really. Queens often lay double eggs when they are just starting or when they are crowded as far as room to lay.
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