opcorn: Interested to see what kind of answers you get...
Observation Hive New Queen Cells
I wanted to watch the bees raise a queen, while also doing a split. My observation hive is set up to hold 4 deeps (two over two) or 6 mediums (two over two over two). Sunday, the 14th, I pulled for deeps from one of my hives which contained a variety of eggs, brood, capped brood, drone, capped drone, honey and pollen. Today, the 16th, they have begun at least 2 queen cells from the bottoms of the frames. I was suprised at the location because I did not realize there were eggs or less than three day old brood in those locations. In any event, they are busily building the cells so I assume I will have a virgin queen in 15 to 16 days depending on the age of the brood they chose. Wonder If I should remove the extra cells after they are capped and put them in another split or two? I could easily remove one meduim box from each of my two hives in the backyard and use them for the splits.
It is interesting to watch the bees be bees.
It is interesting to watch the bees be bees.
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opcorn: Interested to see what kind of answers you get...From what I've been told, the bees will actually move brood from one cell to a queen cup in order to raise a queen. I've never seen them do it myself though.they have begun at least 2 queen cells from the bottoms of the frames. I was suprised at the location because I did not realize there were eggs or less than three day old brood in those locations.
Why on earth would they try to move brood to build a queen cell? They are very adept at building cells anywhere on a frame where there is a larva of the right age. They've been at this for several million years now so they pretty much have the process perfected. Another old wives tale, like the old beekeeper who explained to me that the queen takes off from the hive and flies straight up with a gaggle of drones following and mates on the way to the stratosphere with the one drone that can catch her!
they move EGGS less than 3 days old to queen cells. good luck,mike
Mike Haney,
Are you sure about that? Have you seen them do it?
Are you sure about that? Have you seen them do it?
Would like to see day to day pics.
Hello JBESHEARSE
It has been my experience with moving frames of brood to my observation hive that the bees make a queen cell on the face of the comb that has the proper age brood, have seen it many times. I personally have never witnessed a worker transporting an egg into a queen cell cup but am not saying that it does not occur.
Enjoy your O H (bee tv)
It has been my experience with moving frames of brood to my observation hive that the bees make a queen cell on the face of the comb that has the proper age brood, have seen it many times. I personally have never witnessed a worker transporting an egg into a queen cell cup but am not saying that it does not occur.
Enjoy your O H (bee tv)
Thanks Mike, I don't know why I remembered brood instead of eggs.they move EGGS less than 3 days old to queen cells. good luck,mike
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