Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => REQUEENING & RAISING NEW QUEENS => Topic started by: drone1952 on July 20, 2009, 04:44:45 AM

Title: Laying Queen question
Post by: drone1952 on July 20, 2009, 04:44:45 AM
A question that I want to hear your answer:
Does the bees feed  the laying worker as she is their queen?
:mrgreen:
Title: Re: Laying Queen question
Post by: annette on July 20, 2009, 02:28:14 PM
In a laying worker hive, there are many laying workers, not just one.

I don't know if the workers give them the same attention they would a real queen.
Title: Re: Laying Queen question
Post by: Michael Bush on July 26, 2009, 11:28:17 AM
There are hundreds in a laying worker hive.  They don't produce the pheromone to collect a retinue.  That is a particular pheromone that is only produced by a queen.  But any bee can ask any bee to feed them and they may bet more attention than other bees due to other pheromones produced by having developed ovaries.  I have seen laying workers and caught them in the act (not as hard in a two frame mating nuc if you take the time) and I saw no retinue.
Title: Re: Laying Queen question
Post by: drone1952 on July 26, 2009, 01:52:23 PM
Thank you Annette ,Michael Bush for your answers.