Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => REQUEENING & RAISING NEW QUEENS => Topic started by: nella on May 13, 2009, 09:28:18 AM

Title: Vergin queen
Post by: nella on May 13, 2009, 09:28:18 AM
Are there other ways to recognise a virgin queen other than by her not laying eggs?
Title: Re: Vergin queen
Post by: Robo on May 13, 2009, 10:03:07 AM
Quote from: nella on May 13, 2009, 09:28:18 AM
Are there other ways to recognise a virgin queen other than by her not laying eggs?

Nothing conclusive, but some indications of a virgin are runniness,  smaller abdomen, and workers seem to ignore her.

You can see the abdomen size difference relative to workers in the pictures below

VIRGIN
(http://www.bushkillfarms.com/gallery2/d/2036-1/virginqueen.jpg)

MATED
(http://www.bushkillfarms.com/gallery2/d/2039-1/queen.png)