Instead of just wondering, I decided to ask:
Will a non mated ( never flown, OR, unsuccessful flights ) ever start laying?
I ask this because I have a very dicey situation as Ive posted here before, my tiny weak colony, and its likely superseded new queen.
I have them in an observation hive for their own protection, right now --- and I FINALLY did see her lay yesterday. However I have seen no drones in my yard for two weeks or so now, when I first installed, there were tons, now I never see them at all. Not arriving or leaving or buzzing over, and I did. So she would have mated a couple weeks or more ago, this is a month and a week old colony.
My big question is, does her going through the motions of laying, definitely mean she DID mate, or has mated ( if its the original queen) ?
Will a non mated ( never flown, OR, unsuccessful flights ) ever start laying?
I ask this because I have a very dicey situation as Ive posted here before, my tiny weak colony, and its likely superseded new queen.
I have them in an observation hive for their own protection, right now --- and I FINALLY did see her lay yesterday. However I have seen no drones in my yard for two weeks or so now, when I first installed, there were tons, now I never see them at all. Not arriving or leaving or buzzing over, and I did. So she would have mated a couple weeks or more ago, this is a month and a week old colony.
My big question is, does her going through the motions of laying, definitely mean she DID mate, or has mated ( if its the original queen) ?