No eggs in new colonies from packages

Rurification · May 04, 2015, 08:47:25 AM

Hi everyone -

I installed 2 packages [from Kelley] last Monday evening [Apr 27]. One queen was released by the bees, I released the other on Thursday. I checked for eggs yesterday [Sunday afternoon] and didn't see a single egg in either hive. Didn't see either of the queens, either.

I'm not too worried about not seeing the queens - they hide. But I am concerned about not seeing eggs in either hive. I'm thinking it's more likely my old eyes can't see the eggs [even though I used a magnifying glass, too] than that both packages have bad queens.

Since I've been in the hives twice in a week, I'd like to stop bugging them, but I also want to know if I have a queenless problem. Both hives were quiet and drawing comb.

How soon should I go back in and look for larvae?

I have 2 nucs coming next weekend and can steal a frame of eggs/larvae from them in the event of queenlessness. Should I just wait until I get the nucs, then do a look see and add a frame from a nuc if there are no larvae in those package hives? [I generally don't have a problem seeing larvae...]

iddee · May 04, 2015, 09:04:22 AM

I would check again 14 days after install. Then notify Kelley if I had problems. Don't know what they would do, but they need the feedback to make future supply decisions.

Michael Bush · May 04, 2015, 09:13:07 AM

I've seen package queens take as long as two weeks to start to lay.

Rurification · May 04, 2015, 06:17:54 PM

Thank you, both. I really appreciate your experience.

This is my 4th spring with bees and the one thing I've learned about keeping bees is to Not Panic and just ask for other perspectives. Here's hoping this is a great bee year.

Rurification · May 11, 2015, 01:37:04 PM

Update: Today is day 14, so I did a quick check on both colonies. Did not see either queen, but did see eggs, larvae and capped brood in both colonies. Found a couple of E cells being worked on and left them alone.

GSF · May 12, 2015, 04:29:51 PM

Rurification; Go on ebay and buy you some jeweler's visors. They're bulky and sometimes difficult but if the eggs are there you'll see them. I love them!

BeeMaster2 · May 12, 2015, 07:35:45 PM

Quote from: Rurification on May 11, 2015, 01:37:04 PM
Update: Today is day 14, so I did a quick check on both colonies. Did not see either queen, but did see eggs, larvae and capped brood in both colonies. Found a couple of E cells being worked on and left them alone.

Linda,

By E cells do you mean emergency cell? Are you referring to queen cups on the bottom of a frame or are you referring to worker cells that have been enlarged and drawn down vertical to make emergency queen cells?
Jim

Rurification · May 13, 2015, 03:32:45 PM

I'm talking about queen cups in the middle of frames - made from worker cells. Not along the bottom of any frame.

chux · May 14, 2015, 03:41:08 PM

Sounds like you are getting ready to have a supercedure. I hear of a lot (in my opinion) of package queens getting superceded during the first month.

rookie2531 · May 14, 2015, 08:21:05 PM

I remember when my package superseded. I was worried and took pictures and everyone here saw 2 virgins in the pics. And in the end, the one queen that was left, is a great queen, brood pattern that goes all way top bottom left right. I am very happy with the genetics of her mother.

OldMech · May 15, 2015, 09:53:06 AM

Quote from: chux on May 14, 2015, 03:41:08 PM
Sounds like you are getting ready to have a supercedure. I hear of a lot (in my opinion) of package queens getting superceded during the first month.

What Chux said..
I bought ten packages last year to compare to ten nucs and ten splits.. 9 of the packages superseded their queens by the time fall arrived. 1 of the nucs superseded, and none of the splits superseded.
Let them supersede