can you see the differance from a new bee vs old bee. Hope to see without opening the hive to check brood
New bees are fuzzy and because of the fuzz, noticeably lighter in color.
If you are looking at bees entering and don't open the hive, you are seeing old bees. New bees don't fly.
This is an interesting topic! I will have to check the fuzz and color out next time I go do inspections. I also agree with iddee. The bees working are older, the nurse bees are younger and stay in the hive. However, do the nurse bees take cleansing flights?
so much for that lol. so whats the easiest way to know if they are hatching yet?
The queen lays from the center out. Find a frame with eggs and larva in the center surrounded with capped brood. The eggs and larva will be second generation.
Joe, does the queen take cleansing flights?
dam i guess I wil have to bring myself to open the hive lol :-D
It is my understanding that the queen leaves the hive to mate and once she has mated she never leaves the hive again with the exception of swarming! So my answer would be no for the queen!
Correct. The chamber maids take care of her and the younger bees. Waste material is carried outside.
A wise man once told me that the less "fuzz" the bee has, the older it is. The hairs wear off as they go about their chores. Orientation flights can be another indicator of newer bees if I am not mistaken.
Quote from: iddee on May 12, 2011, 11:24:45 PM
The queen lays from the center out. Find a frame with eggs and larva in the center surrounded with capped brood. The eggs and larva will be second generation.
Joe, does the queen take cleansing flights?
Not always, I've seen queens that layed eggs like she was a typewriter. Left to right, top down. Depends on the queen and how much area of free comb she has to lay in.
Quote from: Brian D. Bray on May 13, 2011, 09:52:13 PM
Quote from: iddee on May 12, 2011, 11:24:45 PM
The queen lays from the center out. Find a frame with eggs and larva in the center surrounded with capped brood. The eggs and larva will be second generation.
Joe, does the queen take cleansing flights?
Not always, I've seen queens that layed eggs like she was a typewriter. Left to right, top down. Depends on the queen and how much area of free comb she has to lay in.
Adding to this comment, I had a package that went queenless. So the hive started putting pollen and sugar syrup everywhere. They filled several brood frames with pollen and honey. When I got a new queen and she started laying there were cells that she could not lay in until the pollen and honey was moved or used. Her pattern really looked spotty but I knew the reason for it. So, this could also be a problem with that theory.
With that kind of responses, maybe we should all quit saying what the bees will do. As a general rule, she will lay circular from center out. If you only want to post facts that never have an exception, maybe we should just close the forum. There will always be exceptions.
Quote from: iddee on May 14, 2011, 09:45:22 AM
As a general rule, she will lay circular from center out.
I completely agree. Just stating that my queens pattern looked spotty for specific reasons. I have personally never seen the typewriter thing, but I would not doubt it.
mine dont lol.....on a secong note I can tell the differance with new bees. A lot lighter