How many mating flights does the new queen make, and how long after will it take for her to start laying?
Anywhere from one to several over anywhere from one to several days. When she thinks she's been mated adquately she will usually start laying within a day.
Thanks for the info, I saw the queen return yesterday.
"She thinks she's mated" depends largely on the condition of the spermatheca.
As she receives sperm, it displaces fuilds in the spermatheca.
After so much time, depends on genetics and environmental issues, the remaining fluid hardens.
This impairs any future matings.
I suppose a woman knows when she has a rock blocking her "privates".