[TAP]

Im am still a new beekeeper " first year" . My question is how would I know if I had a laying worker and not a Queen. I made a split off of another new beekeepers hive. I read books and asked questions to experinced beekeepers. Followed the directions to the letter but after 30 days his bee population is getting low. I looked today very low on brood, but there is larva present, just not much. Was wondering if this is a laying worker , I looked for the queen but found none. I am new so I could have missed her. Was wondering if there is a way to tell? Thanks so much in advance for any help.

 

[Beeslave]

Laying workers will lay multiple eggs per cell. If the cells are deeper the eggs will be on the sides of the cell. Laying worker eggs will become drones so the capped brood will have the .22 cal. bullet appearance to them. Capped worker brood is normally flat in appearance.

 

[Michael Bush]

Try reading this. It should shed some light:
http://www.bushfarms.com/beeslayingworkers.htm

 

[KQ6AR]

You could add, a frame with eggs for insurance.
A new queen might also lay multiple eggs in the beginning.