I have a question about what I should expect to see with a new package which I just installed. The package was installed last week, and the queen-cage plugged with marshmallows as instructed. We were told to check 3 days later to see if the queen had been released - she had been - the cage was empty and not a trace of marshmallow. I removed the cage (no queen inside!), quickly closed up the hive again (also as per instructions) and have been keeping a watch on it from the outside each day. The bees are going in and out, some with pollen, others I assume with nectar. Activity seems to be normal.
Today (8 days after installation) I opened the hive to check. The bees have built comb, mostly on the few frames near where the queen cage was - they have also drawn out the comb on several other frames - I do see what looks like pollen and nectar in some cells, but I could not see the queen (she is marked, but there were so many bees on the frames, and I didn't want to disturb them too much). I looked on several frames but saw neither the queen nor any eggs in cells.
What should I expect to see? How easy is it to spot eggs? How soon would she have started laying? Is this too soon to expect anything?
I had assumed that because the activity of the other bees continues to be normal, the queen must be okay - is this a reasonable assumption? Since this is a new package the bees have no option of raising a queen themselves since there would not have been any fertilized eggs - so do I just leave them, and hope for the best?!
Hived on day 1. Released by day 3. Eggs should be present by day 7. Larva by day 10. Larva easily seen by day 15. I would give them another week, then check for larva.
Thanks!
Did I make a mistake by checking today? Will I have caused any problems for the hive by opening too soon?
Bees seem to be very busy around the hive right now - although they are still bringing in pollen, there seem to be more than usual around the entrance - is that just because I disturbed them?
also caged queens may not start laying immediately after being released. I had one take fourteen days before laying a single egg once. Hopefully yours won't take that long though.
Quote from: ruth on May 07, 2010, 03:14:23 PM
Thanks!
Did I make a mistake by checking today? Will I have caused any problems for the hive by opening too soon?
Bees seem to be very busy around the hive right now - although they are still bringing in pollen, there seem to be more than usual around the entrance - is that just because I disturbed them?
You did just fine :) I opened mine 2 days later to check on queen release, and they were back to business within minutes. My guess is that if you went in every 2 days for weeks on end, they might start rethinking the hive as a good spot to live, but once should be fine.
There are probably more bees around the entrance because there is more pollen and/or nectar for them to be bringing in and they are settled in their now home, now out foraging.
As for eggs, I think they're fairly easy to see. Follow this link to page 2 for a pretty good photo: http://www.countryrubes.com/images/The_Life_Cycle_of_a_Bee_updated_9_09.pdf (http://www.countryrubes.com/images/The_Life_Cycle_of_a_Bee_updated_9_09.pdf)
Good luck!
One check the first week, one check the second week. That is the normal protocol. You did fine.
As far as seeing eggs:
BrianDbray says it can be like looking at a grain of rice at the bottom of a trash can.
They are hard to see sometimes,especially if the new wax is real white.
luvin honey, that is an awesome link. Thanks so much for that.
You are very welcome :)
As for eggs, I think they're fairly easy to see.
Ya if you got good eye's it takes me Eye glass and magnifying glass :roll:
Quote from: Irwin on May 10, 2010, 06:21:47 PM
As for eggs, I think they're fairly easy to see.
Ya if you got good eye's it takes me Eye glass and magnifying glass :roll:
I guess I am betraying my youth :) Or excessive vitamin K consumption :D
Maybe I should rephrase. It's not easy as in as easy as seeing the bees. But once you see the eggs, you know it and are never left wondering again whether you are seeing eggs or not. Holding the comb at an angle so that the sunlight can directly shine in over your shoulder is very helpful.
Thank you everyone!
Now just waiting for some decent weather this week for the second-week check!
Happy to report that I inspected my new colony today - and saw the queen (thank goodness we had her marked!). She is alive and well. Did not see any eggs (really hard to see eggs against new white beeswax) but did see young larvae - so the queen is obviously laying. I guess I could have spent more time looking for eegs - but was really nervous about disturbing the colony for too long - so took the combination of queen and larvae as a great sign. Closed everything up, replaced sugar syrup, and feeling very relieved and happy!
Thanks to everyone for the advice and supportive information.
That's wonderful, ruth!